Grey Alder vs Green Bulrush - TreeTime.ca

Grey Alder vs Green Bulrush

Alnus incana

Scirpus pallidus

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

CUSTOM GROW

Grey Alder
Green Bulrush

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.

Note: We use Grey Alder for Alnus incana. This species is also known by many other common names, including River Alder, Speckled Alder, and others. Please confirm the scientific name to ensure you are ordering the correct plant.

Green Bulrush is a common waterside plant, suitable for erosion control and land reclamation. Despite this, Green Bulrush is very drought resistant once established. Bulrushes can cool nearby areas on hot days.

Unlike many of the other waterside plants available, Green Bulrush does not attract wildlife. This makes it a good choice for surrounding residential water sources.

Green Bulrush is topped with spiky balls of florets, green in the spring and fading to brown in the fall.

Grey Alder Quick Facts

Green Bulrush Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 1a
Height: 8 m (25 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium


Foliage: long thin whitish green
Fall colour: yellow to orange
Flowers: green spiked clusters
Fruit: small catkins
Cones: small brown cones
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: yes
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON
Other Names: hoary alder, river alder, speckled alder
Other Names: cloaked bulrush, pale bulrush, pale-green bulrush