Black Chokeberry (Aronia)
Aronia melanocarpa
A superfood berry on a bulletproof native shrub — glossy fruit, fiery fall colour, zero fuss.
- Zone 3–8
- 6 ft
- Full Sun
Nova Scotia grownShipped across CanadaSeasonal bare-root shipping
The Discovery Garden
Cold-hardy trees, berries, and native plants — every one grown for Canadian winters and matched to your zone.
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Aronia melanocarpa
A superfood berry on a bulletproof native shrub — glossy fruit, fiery fall colour, zero fuss.
Ships SpringIn StockSambucus canadensis
Hardy Elderberry Tree Are you ready to enhance your garden and boost your well-being with the power of elderberries? Our Elderberry Plants are the perfect choice. Here's why: Hardiness Zone Suitable for Zones 3-9, our Elderberry Plants adapt well to a wide range of climates, providing you with a reliable harvest. Ideal Soil Type These hardy shrubs thrive in well-draining, loamy soil, but they're remarkably adaptable to different soil types. Maintain a slightly acidic to neutral pH level (around 6.0 to 7.0) for optimal growth. Fruit Size Enjoy abundant clusters of small, nutrient-rich elderberries, perfect for creating immune-boosting syrups, jams, pies, and even wine. Height of Our Elderberry Tree Plant Mature Elderberry Plants can reach heights of 6-12 feet, offering both visual appeal and privacy screening in your garden. Flowering Time The Elderberry tree bursts into creamy white blossoms in late spring to early summer, attracting beneficial pollinators to your garden. Growth Habits These plants display a bushy and vigorous growth habit, making them ideal for hedges, borders, or as standalone focal points in your landscape. What to Do with the Fruit Elderberries are versatile. Harvest and transform them into immune-boosting syrups, jams, jellies, and pies. They're also perfect for creating elderberry wine, rich in antioxidants. Ripeness Indicator Elderberries are ripe when they turn dark purple or black and have a soft, plump texture. Typically, this occurs in late summer to early fall. Additional Requirements - Sunlight: Ensure Elderberry tree receive at least 6 hours of sunlight daily for abundant fruit production. - Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the growing season, to support healthy growth and fruit development. - Pruning: Regular pruning in late winter or early spring helps maintain shape and encourage new growth. - Pollination: These varieties are self-pollinating, but planting multiple Elderberry shrubs can increase fruit production. - Spacing: Plant Elderberry shrubs 6-10 feet apart to allow for healthy growth and airflow. Why Choose Our Elderberry Plants - Expertly Cultivated: Our Elderberry tree is grown with care, ensuring strong, healthy specimens ready to thrive in your garden. - Bountiful Harvests: Enjoy a generous supply of nutrient-rich elderberries, perfect for your well-being and culinary adventures. - Adaptable to Your Space: Elderberry can be tailored to your garden, serving both aesthetic and practical purposes. - Year-Round Beauty: Beyond the delectable fruit, they contribute to your garden's allure with their beautiful foliage and blossoms. Elderberry Tree Varieties: Native Elderberry: Bigger berries thrive on robust John elderberry plants, with a harvest typically arriving about two weeks after Adams. Low-maintenance bushes . Their lush green foliage adds an attractive gloss to your landscape. In spring, enjoy the sight of enormous clusters of white flowers that transform into soft, nearly black berries come late summer. Both the elderflowers and ripe elderberries are edible, making this cultivar versatile. John elderberries are cold-hardy and typically ripen in mid-August. They also serve as excellent pollinators for other elderberry varieties. Bob Gordan Elderberry: Bob Gordon elderberry stands out with its exceptionally sweet and plump berries, surpassing many other elderberry varieties. It was first discovered in Osceola, Missouri, in 1999. These berries boast an impressive antioxidant content, exceeding that of cherries by more than four times. Robust and prolific, Bob Gordon plants are low-maintenance and yield substantial ¼-inch elderberries, perfect for pies, jams, wines, and syrups. They exhibit some resistance to Japanese beetles. The unique hanging flower heads help naturally deter bird damage, but it's advisable to use netting to protect the fruit before ripening in July. Bob Gordon serves as an excellent pollinator for various elderberry varieties. Big Berry Elderberry Big Berry elderberry is selected for its impressively large, plump fruit clusters , producing noticeably bigger berries than most standard elderberry varieties. Known for its rich flavour and high antioxidant content, this variety offers exceptional yields that make it ideal for pies, jams, wines, syrups, and herbal uses. Vigorous and low-maintenance, Big Berry forms strong canes that support its heavy crops, thriving in cold climates with minimal care. The abundant flower heads develop into oversized, dark-purple berries that ripen mid-summer, making it a standout choice for homesteads, food forests, and small-scale farms. Plant alongside another elderberry variety for best pollination and maximum fruit set.
Ships SpringIn StockAmelanchier alnifolia
The Serviceberry: Canada's Four-Season Tree (Juneberry / Saskatoon) The Serviceberry ( Amelanchier spp. ), also affectionately known as Juneberry or Saskatoon Berry in the West, is arguably the most valuable multi-purpose native tree for the Canadian landscape. Whether you need a small, elegant shade tree, an edible fruit producer for your homestead, or simply a plant that delivers year-round aesthetic brilliance, the Serviceberry is the definitive choice. We offer species and cultivars renowned for their superior flavour and cold hardiness, ensuring success from Nova Scotia to the Prairies. A True Four-Season Ornamental Spring Spectacle: Serviceberry is one of the first trees to bloom in spring, often before the leaves emerge, covering the branches in a cloud of delicate, slightly fragrant white flowers. Summer Harvest: The flowers give way to clusters of small, sweet, purple-blue berries—similar in appearance to blueberries but often with a richer, nutty, almost almond-like flavour. Autumn Fire: The foliage transforms into brilliant shades of orange, red, and golden yellow, rivaling any non-native species for fall colour. Winter Elegance: Once bare, the smooth, ash-grey bark stands out against the snow, often exhibiting beautiful vertical reddish fissures for textural interest. Growing Your Own Saskatoon Superfruit Our Serviceberry trees are selected for their flavour and productivity. The ripe berries are a delight straight off the branch but are also perfect for jams, pies, cobblers, and preserves . Pro Tip: Saskatoon berries are a high-value crop commercially cultivated in Western Canada. To beat the birds (which love them!), consider netting your tree as the fruit begins to ripen in late June/early July, and pick the berries when they are dark purple-blue, not red. Specifications & Planting Success Specification Details Common Names Serviceberry, Juneberry, Saskatoon, Shadbush Scientific Name Amelanchier spp. (Often A. canadensis or the hardy fruiting A. alnifolia .) Canadian Hardiness Zone 2–9 (Varies by species; we focus on Zone 2/3 tolerant stock) Mature Size 4–8m (12–25 ft) tall, depending on if grown as a shrub or single-stem tree. Light Requirements Full Sun to Partial Shade (Full sun yields the best flower and berry production). Soil Tolerance Tolerates most soils, including clay and alkaline. Prefers moist, well-drained loam. Native Status Native to nearly all of Canada, making it an ecological powerhouse. FAQs Q: Are Serviceberry berries truly edible, and what do they taste like? A: Yes, they are completely edible and delicious! They are often described as tasting like a mix between a blueberry, a cherry, and an apple, with a distinct sweet, nutty finish. They are a favourite of many Indigenous communities and commercial fruit growers. Q: Does Serviceberry require a pollinator plant? A: Most Serviceberry species, including the popular A. alnifolia (Saskatoon), are generally self-fertile and can produce fruit from a single tree. Planting multiple specimens, however, can lead to a slightly larger crop. Q: How fast does Serviceberry grow? A: Serviceberry has a moderate growth rate, typically adding 30–60 cm (1–2 ft) per year. It quickly establishes its multi-season features, often blooming and fruiting within 2-3 years of planting.
Zone-matched plants
Every plant shows the zones where it thrives.
Grown in Nova Scotia
Raised for Canadian winters, shipped across Canada.
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Every tree, shrub, and berry in our nursery is grown in Nova Scotia and selected for real Canadian conditions — short summers, cold winters, and everything in between. Whether you're planting a nut orchard, a berry patch, or restoring habitat with native plants, start with your hardiness zone and plant with confidence.