Northern Bush Honeysuckle vs Mountain Alder - TreeTime.ca

Northern Bush Honeysuckle vs Mountain Alder

Diervilla lonicera

Alnus incana subsp. tenuifolia

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

CUSTOM GROW

Northern Bush Honeysuckle
Mountain 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.

Mountain Alder is a native cold-hardy shrub or small tree often found along streams and in moist forested habitats. Its nitrogen-fixing ability enriches soils and supports surrounding vegetation, while its extensive root system helps stabilize streambanks and slopes. The fast growth rate allows it to establish quickly on disturbed sites, making it especially valuable in reclamation, restoration, and erosion control projects.

Often forming dense thickets, Mountain Alder enhances habitat quality in riparian and upland areas. It provides food and cover for various wildlife, including birds and small mammals. Recognized as an important species for soil and water conservation, it is well suited for riparian planting, naturalization, and ecological restoration.

Note: We use Sitka Alder for Alnus incana subsp. tenuifolia. This species is also known by many other common names, including Grey Alder, River Alder, and others. Please confirm the scientific name to ensure you are ordering the correct plant.

Northern Bush Honeysuckle Quick Facts

Mountain Alder Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 1a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 6 m (20 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: normal, wet
Growth rate: very fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Growth form: multi-stemmed, thicket-forming
Spreading: rhizomes - medium, seeds - low, layering - low
Suckering: high


Bark: smooth, gray to brown
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, SK, YT, NT
Other Names: low bush honeysuckle
Other Names: river alder, speckled alder, thin-leaved alder, thinleaf alder, western river alder