Common Wild Rose vs Sitka Alder - TreeTime.ca

Common Wild Rose vs Sitka Alder

Rosa woodsii

Alnus alnobetula subsp. sinuata

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

CUSTOM GROW

Common Wild Rose
Sitka Alder

Common Wild Rose produces attractive pink roses and edible bright red rosehips. This tough, native shrub is a beautiful, low-maintenance addition to any garden. Common Wild Rose is very similar to Alberta (Prickly) Wild Rose but with fewer thorns.

Sitka Alder is a native deciduous shrub or small tree that often forms dense thickets. Its extensive root system stabilizes slopes and streambanks. Nitrogen-fixing capabilities and nutrient-rich leaf litter improve soil fertility, creating better growing conditions for surrounding plants. These qualities make it especially effective in disturbed or erosion-prone sites.
Often found in moist, high-elevation mountain environments, Sitka Alder also enhances habitat by providing cover and structure in both riparian and upland areas. Birds and small mammals utilize it for nesting, and its seeds serve as a food source.
Note: We use Sitka Alder for Alnus alnobetula subsp. sinuata. This species is also known by many other common names, including Mountain Alder, Green Alder, and others. Please confirm the scientific name to ensure you are ordering the correct plant.

Common Wild Rose Quick Facts

Sitka Alder Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 2a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Growth form: upright to prostrate, thicket-forming
Spreading: seed - medium, layering - medium
Suckering: none


Fall colour: bright red
Bark: redish-brown to grey, smooth
Flowers: pink
Fruit: rose hips
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: yes


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, YT, NT
Native to: AB, BC, YT, NT
Other Names: woods rose
Other Names: wavy leaf alder