Green Alder vs Witch Hazel - TreeTime.ca

Green Alder vs Witch Hazel

Alnus alnobetula subsp. crispa

Hamamelis virginiana

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Green Alder
Witch Hazel

Green Alder is a cold hardy, native shrub. It is often planted on infertile sites so it can fix nitrogen from the air and improve the soil quality.

Green Alder is known for its smooth grey bark and attractive shiny green leaves; it is commonly used in reclamation.

Witch Hazel is a deciduous shrub, or small tree, with a short trunk, bearing numerous spreading, crooked branches.

The seeds grow in a long, wooden pod with two to four seeds per pod. Upon ripening, the pods burst, firing the seeds up to 30km an hour.

The leaf and bark extract of Witch Hazel has been used as a remedy to common ailments such as inflammation, bruises and much more for many centuries.

Green Alder Quick Facts

Witch Hazel Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 3a
Height: 7 m (23 ft)
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: any
Light: any
Moisture: any
Moisture: wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: slow
Life span: short
Life span: long
Suckering: high
Suckering: medium


Seeds: seeds ejected to a distance of up to 30 ft
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: yes
Catkins: no

In row spacing: 0.9 m (3 ft)

Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: AB, SK, MB, ON, NS, NB, NL, YT
Native to: ON, QC, NS, NB, PE
Other Names: american green alder