Ohio Buckeye vs Mountain Alder - TreeTime.ca

Ohio Buckeye vs Mountain Alder

Aesculus glabra

Alnus incana subsp. tenuifolia

CUSTOM GROW

Ohio Buckeye
Mountain Alder

Ohio Buckeye is a medium sized deciduous tree. If you are looking for a shade tree, Ohio Buckeye's dense canopy of unique leaves can provide it.

Named after its fruit, an inedible nut enclosed in a prickly husk, Ohio Buckeye also features green-yellow flowers and long, broad leaves that turn brilliant red in the fall.

Slow growing, but an extremely attractive tree. Find out what experienced horticulturalists already know: this tree is a gem.

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.

Ohio Buckeye Quick Facts

Mountain Alder Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $6.99
Zone: 2b
Zone: 1a
Height: 15 m (49 ft)
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Growth form: multi-stemmed, thicket-forming
Spreading: rhizomes - medium, seeds - low, layering - low
Suckering: low
Maintenance: medium

Toxicity: nuts are toxic to humans and cattle

Foliage: palmate
Fall colour: reddish-orange or yellow
Bark: smooth, gray to brown
Nuts: spiny nut
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: yes


Native to: ON
Native to: AB, BC, SK, YT, NT
Other Names: american buckeye, fetid buckeye
Other Names: river alder, speckled alder, thin-leaved alder, thinleaf alder, western river alder