Snowball Viburnum vs Ranch Elderberry - TreeTime.ca

Snowball Viburnum vs Ranch Elderberry

Viburnum opulus roseum

Sambucus canadensis Ranch

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

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Snowball Viburnum
Ranch Elderberry

Snowball Viburnum is a popular ornamental shrub with prolific flowering. This plant is prized for its round clusters of white flowers that resemble snowballs, delighting children and adults. In fall, its leaves turn vibrant shades of red.

Snowball Viburnum is sought after as a single accent shrub, but can also make a dense hedge or privacy screen.

Ranch Elderberry is a vigorous and high-yielding Black Elderberry cultivar. It ripens earlier than other varieties and is smaller and more compact making berry harvest easier. The berries are well-suited for baked goods, jams, jellies, and syrups. They are high in vitamin C and reported to be beneficial for the immune system.

Black Elderberries are considered to be partially self-pollinating. So while they will still produce some berries without cross-pollination, planting with another variety will increase yields. Consider planting with Black Elderberry or Bob Gordon Elderberry.

Warning: the seeds, stems, leaves, roots, and uncooked berries are toxic to humans when eaten in quantity. Berries should be cooked to make them safe for human consumption.

Snowball Viburnum Quick Facts

Ranch Elderberry Quick Facts

Zone: 3b
Zone: 3a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium


Toxicity: leaves, stems, and uncooked berries are poisonous to humans
Fall colour: purplish-red
Bark: gold to gray
Flowers: white
Flowers: fragrant, white
Berries: black
Harvest: late summer to early fall
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: european cranberrybush, guelder rose, snowball bush, snowball tree
Other Names: american elderberry ranch, american ranch elderberry, ranch american elderberry