Alberta Wild Rose (Prickly Rose) vs Sweet Gale

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.

Sweet Gale is a native, nitrogen-fixing shrub known for its aromatic foliage. Tiny glands on the leaves release a balmy, bay leaf-like scent with floral and citrus notes. In spring, the yellowish male catkins provide one of the earliest sources of pollen for bees and other insects. While later in the season, the female catkins produce seeds that are eaten by waterfowl. Sweet Gale is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers occur on separate plants.

Sweet Gale thrives in wet, acidic soils and is commonly found along wetlands and lakeshores. It can help stabilize shorelines, while its dense growth provides valuable cover for wildlife. It is well-suited for naturalization, wetland restoration, and erosion control projects.

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