Black Elderberry vs Lowbush Blueberry - TreeTime.ca

Black Elderberry vs Lowbush Blueberry

Vaccinium angustifolium

Sambucus canadensis

Lowbush Blueberry
Black Elderberry

Lowbush Blueberry, commonly known as the Wild Lowbush Blueberry, is often wild-harvested and thrives in low pH acidic soil. This early low-bush blueberry produces white and pink bell-shaped flowers in the spring. Its fruit is smaller in size than high bush blueberry plants and is more flavourful with an intense blueberry taste-masking it perfect for fresh eating, baking, and preserves.

Note: Blueberries require very specific soil conditions. They need well-drained soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.0. If the starting pH of your soil is between 5.1 and 6.2 you can lower it by adding sulfur. We recommend against planting blueberries in soil with a starting pH greater than 6.2. Please do your own research before buying any blueberry plants.

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.

Lowbush Blueberry Quick Facts

Black Elderberry Quick Facts

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Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: any
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Berries: edible blue
Berries: black
Harvest: July
Flowers: white, pink tinged, bell shaped
Flowers: fragrant, white and showy
Bark: gray brownish with rigid bumps
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium




Toxicity: leaves, stems, and uncooked berries are poisonous to humans
Other Names: late lowbush blueberry, late sweet blueberry, wild lowbush blueberry
Other Names: american black elderberry, american elderberry, canada elderberry, common elderberry