Black Elderberry vs Honeywood Saskatoon (Serviceberry) - TreeTime.ca

Black Elderberry vs Honeywood Saskatoon (Serviceberry)

Sambucus canadensis

Amelanchier alnifolia Honeywood

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Black Elderberry
Honeywood Saskatoon (Serviceberry)

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.

Honeywood Saskatoon, also known as Serviceberries, is excellent at producing an abundance of blue-coloured berries in mid-summer and has dark green foliage that turns yellow in the fall. It is quite large making it a perfect shrub in your backyard garden. Often grown for its edible qualities, the Honeywood Saskatoon is quite ornamental with stunning white blooms in the spring.

Black Elderberry Quick Facts

Honeywood Saskatoon (Serviceberry) Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: low
Maintenance: medium

Toxicity: leaves, stems, and uncooked berries are poisonous to humans

Bark: gray brownish with rigid bumps
Flowers: fragrant, white and showy
Berries: black
Berries: produces large edible berries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, PE
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, YT, NT
Other Names: american black elderberry, american elderberry, canada elderberry, common elderberry
Other Names: honeywood juneberry, honeywood service berry