Green Alder vs Dwarf-Bog Birch - TreeTime.ca

Green Alder vs Dwarf-Bog Birch

Alnus alnobetula subsp. crispa

Betula glandulosa

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

CUSTOM GROW

Green Alder
Dwarf-Bog Birch

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.

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.

Green Alder Quick Facts

Dwarf-Bog Birch Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 2a
Height: 7 m (23 ft)
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: any
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: high


Bark: reddish brown
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: yes
Catkins: yes

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: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU
Other Names: american green alder
Other Names: dwarf birch, dwarf resin birch, glandular birch, resin birch, scrub birch, swamp birch