Black Elderberry vs Blue Crop Blueberry - TreeTime.ca

Black Elderberry vs Blue Crop Blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum Blue Crop

Sambucus canadensis

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Blue Crop Blueberry
Black Elderberry

Blue Crop Blueberry is a high yielding, commercial highbush blueberry variety that is widely planted. If you're lucky enough to live in a suitable climate zone, Blue Crop Blueberry is a great choice. Its very large berries taste amazing. They are very firm and store well.

While this variety is self-pollinating, we recommend pairing Blue Crop Blueberry with another Blueberry to increase the berry production of both varieties.

You must prune Blue Crop Blueberry to maintain its health and productivity.

Note: Blueberries require very specific soil conditions. They need well-drained soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.0.

Black Elderberry is a deciduous shrub native to eastern North America. You can plant this shrub in moist areas and it will help stabilize your soil. You can also use it on rural properties anywhere you'd use a lilac.

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 Ranch Elderberry or Bob Gordon Elderberry.

Warning: the seeds, stems, leaves, roots, and uncooked berries of the Black Elderberry are poisonous to humans when eaten in quantity. You should cook the berries to make them safe for human consumption.

Blue Crop Blueberry Quick Facts

Black Elderberry Quick Facts

Zone: 4a
Zone: 3a
Height: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: any
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Toxicity: leaves, stems, and uncooked berries are poisonous to humans
Fall colour: orange-red
Bark: gray brownish with rigid bumps
Flowers: fragrant, white and showy
Berries: big clusters of large, light blue berries
Berries: black
Fruit size: very large
Firmness: very firm
Flavor: slightly tart, excellent
Harvest: mid summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: american black elderberry, american elderberry, canada elderberry, common elderberry