Black Elderberry vs Giants Heart Haskap (Honeyberry) - TreeTime.ca

Black Elderberry vs Giants Heart Haskap (Honeyberry)

Sambucus canadensis

Lonicera caerulea Giants Heart

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NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Black Elderberry
Giants Heart Haskap (Honeyberry)

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.

The Giants Heart Haskap is a late-ripening shrub that blooms with small white flowers and produces large, firm blue berries that are ready for harvest in late July. Their taste is typically described as something between a raspberry and a blueberry.

The Giants Heart Haskap, or Giants Heart Honeyberry is suitable for commercial growth as it is high yielding with sweet berries, cold-hardy and a vigorous grower.

Giants Heart is a late pollinating variety. Pair with other late pollinators to have a higher yield.
Kawaii is a great companion variety.

Black Elderberry Quick Facts

Giants Heart Haskap (Honeyberry) Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: any
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none
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
Flavor: very sweet
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, PE
Other Names: american black elderberry, american elderberry, canada elderberry, common elderberry
Other Names: giants heart honeyberry