Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
North America, United States, Northwestern United States, Alaska, California, Canada
Europe, Morocco, Western Asia
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest
Boggy areas, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Mountain Slopes, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-7
5-8
Sunset Zone
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17
A1, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Pyramidal
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Coral
White, Red, Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Needle like
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Tolerances
Maritime exposure, Salt water
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Layering, Seedlings
Divison, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune in early summer, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Nitrogen
Ammonium Nitrate
Pests and Diseases
-
Armillaria mellea, Chlorosis, Crown rot, Powdery mildew, Root rot, Rust, Verticillium Wilt
Plant Tolerance
Maritime exposure, Salt water
Drought, Dry soil, Shade areas, Wet Site
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single, Double, Semi-Double
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Insects
Bees, Butterflies, Moths
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
Skin inflammation
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree
Food for animals, Food for insects
Medicinal Uses
Anodyne, Appetizer, Astringent
Arthritis, Bladder Infection, Colic, Diarrhea, Gout, Inflammation, Kidney Stones, Rheumatism, Stomach pain, Urinary tract problems
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Inner Bark, Sap
Flowers
Other Uses
Used as a dye, used for making charcoal, Used for making informal hedge
Can be made into a herbal tea, Food for animals, 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, Cutflower, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
ALNUS rubra
CALLUNA vulgaris
Common Name
Oregon Alder, Red Alder
Heather, Common heather, Ling
In German
rot-Erle
Heidekraut
In French
aulne rouge
bruyère
In Spanish
aliso rojo
brezo
In Greek
κόκκινη σκλήθρα
ερείκη
In Portuguese
amieiro vermelho
urze
In Polish
czerwony olcha
wrzos
In Latin
red alnus
Heather
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Betulaceae
Ericaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Importance of Red Alder and Heather
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Red Alder and Heather. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Red Alder and Heather 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 Heather is Arthritis, Bladder Infection, Colic, Diarrhea, Gout, Inflammation, Kidney Stones, Rheumatism, Stomach pain and Urinary tract problems. Red Alder has beauty benefits as follows: Skin Problems while Heather has beauty benefits as follows: Skin Problems.
Compare Facts of Red Alder vs Heather
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 Heather 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 Heather have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Red Alder has showy fruits and Heather has no showy fruits. Also Red Alder is not flowering and Heather is not flowering . You can compare Red Alder and Heather facts and facts of other plants too.