Grey Alder vs Dwarf-Bog Birch - TreeTime.ca

Grey Alder vs Dwarf-Bog Birch

Alnus incana

Betula glandulosa

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

CUSTOM GROW

Grey Alder
Dwarf-Bog Birch

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.

Dwarf-Bog Birch is a native, cold-hardy shrub that can be found across most of Canada. Its preference for moist soils and the extensive root system make it well-suited for riparian zone plantings, soil stabilization, and erosion control projects.
It features small, round, leathery leaves with scalloped edges and produces small, cone-like catkins. A distinguishing characteristic of the Dwarf-Bog Birch is the presence of large resin glands on the branches and the undersides of the leaves. These resin glands are the reason for its scientific name, Betula glandulosa.
Note: We use Dwarf-Bog Birch for Betula glandulosa. This species is also known by many other common names, including Bog Birch, Dwarf Birch, Glandular Birch, and others. Please confirm the scientific name to ensure you are ordering the correct plant.

Grey Alder Quick Facts

Dwarf-Bog Birch Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 2a
Height: 8 m (25 ft)
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Growth form: spreading to prostrate, clump-forming
Spreading: seeds - medium, layering - medium
Suckering: none


Fall colour: yellow to orange
Bark: reddish brown
Fruit: small catkins
Cones: small brown cones
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: yes
Catkins: yes


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU
Other Names: hoary alder, river alder, speckled alder
Other Names: dwarf birch, dwarf resin birch, glandular birch, resin birch, scrub birch, swamp birch