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River Alder vs Purple Leaf Sand Cherry
Prunus x cistena
Alnus incana
ONLY AVAILABLE BY CONTRACT GROW
NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON
Purple Leaf Sand Cherry provides bright reddish-purple leaves that turn bronze-green in the fall. In the spring, tiny flowers with a pinkish white hue bloom. The flowers are small, but the impact comes from the shrub blossoming all at once.
The Purple leaf sand cherry can be susceptible to pests and diseases in more humid areas; a typical life span is approximately 15 years. Not suitable for a privacy hedge on its own but is often alternated with lilacs. Often used as an accent plant that attracts birds and bees.
River Alder is a large shrub or small tree with a multi-stemmed, spreading habit. It is an excellent tree to plant if you want to stabilize the soil near rivers and creeks.
Unlike the other alder varieties, River Alder is attractive enough to be included in riverside plantings by municipal and provincial park organizations.
Purple Leaf Sand Cherry Quick Facts
River Alder Quick Facts
Toxicity: the leaves and seed are slightly toxic