Alberta Wild Rose (Prickly Rose) vs Mountain Alder - TreeTime.ca

Alberta Wild Rose (Prickly Rose) vs Mountain Alder

Alnus incana subsp. tenuifolia

Rosa acicularis

CUSTOM GROW

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Mountain Alder
Alberta Wild Rose (Prickly Rose)

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.

Alberta's provincial flower, Alberta Wild Rose, is a small, deciduous shrub known for its beautiful pink blooms and thick, thorny stems.

Native to Canada, this hardy perennial is an attractive addition to any garden. Wildlife enjoy its edible rosehips, which inclined growers can use in jams, jellies, and rose hip tea.

Mountain Alder Quick Facts

Alberta Wild Rose (Prickly Rose) Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 1a
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: any
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
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: medium


Fall colour: bright red
Bark: smooth, gray to brown
Flowers: pink,blooms between May and June. Flowers are both male and female
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: yes
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, YT, NT
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, YT, NT, NU
Other Names: river alder, speckled alder, thin-leaved alder, thinleaf alder, western river alder
Other Names: arctic rose, bristly rose, prickly wild rose