Common Hackberry vs Red Elderberry - TreeTime.ca

Common Hackberry vs Red Elderberry

Sambucus racemosa

Celtis occidentalis

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Red Elderberry
Common Hackberry

Red Elderberry is an attractive, medium-sized deciduous shrub.

It produces clusters of white flowers in the spring and bright red berry-like drupes, which provide beautiful contrast against its coarse, textured green foliage.

Red Elder can be pruned as a small single or multi-stemmed tree.

The Common Hackberry is a medium-sized deciduous tree that resembles the American Elm but is immune to Dutch Elm Disease. They are versatile and can adapt to a variety of growing conditions.

It produces purple-red, berry-like fruit with a large seed in the center. Both the sweet flesh, which tastes similar to dates, and the crunchy seed are edible. The fruit remains on the tree throughout the winter, offering a valuable food source for birds and other wildlife.

The Common Hackberry can also be a great addition to a pollinator garden. The tree itself is a host for the larvae of several butterfly species and the flowers provide a source of pollen and nectar.

Red Elderberry Quick Facts

Common Hackberry Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $10.99 - SAVE UP TO 27%
Zone: 2a
Zone: 2b
Height: 4 m (13 ft)
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 7 m (24 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: long
Suckering: none
Suckering: high

Toxicity: toxic to humans

Flowers: white
Berries: bright red berries
Berries: black, edible
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: late fall to winter
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, PE
Native to: MB, ON, QC
Other Names: red elder
Other Names: american hackberry, beaverwood, false elm, nettle tree, northern hackberry