Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
North America, United States, Northwestern United States, Alaska, California, Canada
Europe, Asia
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest
Dry areas, Roadsides, stream banks, Stream side, Waste areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-7
3-7
Sunset Zone
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Pyramidal
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Coral
White, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Arrowhead
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Tolerances
Maritime exposure, Salt water
Drought, Dry soil
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Layering, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water when soil is dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune in spring, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Nitrogen
fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing, fertilize in growing season
Pests and Diseases
-
Caterpillars, Leaf Hoppers, Nematodes, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Maritime exposure, Salt water
Drought, Frost
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Yes
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Insects
Flying insects, Insects, Spider Mites
Allergy
-
Avoid during Pregnancy, Headache, Stomach pain, Vomiting
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Anodyne, Appetizer, Astringent
Arthritis, Cold, constipation, Fever, Insomia, Migraines, Upset stomach
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Inner Bark, Sap
Whole plant
Other Uses
Used as a dye, used for making charcoal, Used for making informal hedge
Air freshner, Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Making Perfumes, Making Shampoo, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Medicinal oil, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees
Container, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
ALNUS rubra
NEPETA cataria
Common Name
Oregon Alder, Red Alder
Cat Nip, Catnip
In German
rot-Erle
Katzenminze
In French
aulne rouge
cataire
In Spanish
aliso rojo
Catnip
In Greek
κόκκινη σκλήθρα
Είδος δυόσμου
In Portuguese
amieiro vermelho
catnip
In Polish
czerwony olcha
Kocimiętka
In Latin
red alnus
catnip
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Betulaceae
Lamiaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Importance of Red Alder and Catnip
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Red Alder and Catnip. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Red Alder and Catnip as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Red Alder is Anodyne, Appetizer and Astringent whereas of Catnip is Arthritis, Cold, constipation, Fever, Insomia, Migraines and Upset stomach. Red Alder has beauty benefits as follows: Skin Problems while Catnip has beauty benefits as follows: Skin Problems.
Compare Facts of Red Alder vs Catnip
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Red Alder vs Catnip and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Red Alder are whereas of Catnip have Avoid during Pregnancy, Headache, Stomach pain and Vomiting respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Red Alder has showy fruits and Catnip has no showy fruits. Also Red Alder is not flowering and Catnip is not flowering . You can compare Red Alder and Catnip facts and facts of other plants too.