Northern Bush Honeysuckle vs Sitka Alder - TreeTime.ca

Northern Bush Honeysuckle vs Sitka Alder

Diervilla lonicera

Alnus alnobetula subsp. sinuata

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

CUSTOM GROW

Northern Bush Honeysuckle
Sitka Alder

The Northern Bush Honeysuckle is a small, dense, deciduous shrub. The trumpet-like yellow flowers bloom late spring to early summer. Dark green leaves turn yellow then red in the fall. The flower nectar has a sweet honey taste that can be sucked out of the flower.

Because of its aggressive suckering habit, the Northern Bush Honeysuckle makes a great hedge, shrub border, or thicket in a woodland garden.

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.

Northern Bush Honeysuckle Quick Facts

Sitka Alder Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: shade, partial shade
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: wet
Growth rate: very fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Growth form: upright to prostrate, thicket-forming
Spreading: seed - medium, layering - medium
Suckering: high


Bark: redish-brown to grey, smooth
Flowers: yellow to red
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: yes


Native to: SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Native to: AB, BC, YT, NT
Other Names: low bush honeysuckle
Other Names: wavy leaf alder