Grey Alder vs Pygmy Caragana - TreeTime.ca

Grey Alder vs Pygmy Caragana

Alnus incana

Caragana pygmaea

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

CUSTOM GROW

Grey Alder
Pygmy Caragana

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.

Pygmy Caragana is a shrub that is related to Common Caragana and has a compact size that is suitable for yards with limited space. Its size is perfect for landscaping and decorative hedges, and requires little maintenance. This nitrogen fixer has fine-textured foliage and small yellow flowers. Much like Common Caragana, it is hardy and drought tolerant.

Popular as a low maintenance commercial landscaping shrub and for hedging. This species does have tiny spines that might poke you a bit. It has a nice appealing texture when mature.

Grey Alder Quick Facts

Pygmy Caragana Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 2b
Height: 8 m (25 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: none


Fall colour: yellow to orange
Flowers: prolific tiny yellow pea-like flowers
Fruit: small catkins
Cones: small brown cones
Seeds: prolific seedpods are edible
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: yes
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Other Names: hoary alder, river alder, speckled alder
Other Names: pygmy peashrub