Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
North America, United States, Northwestern United States, Alaska, California, Canada
Habitat
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
Lowland evergreen rainforest
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
4-7
Sunset Zone
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
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Pyramidal
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
Yellow, Red, Coral
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
Ovate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Spring
Early Spring
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Maritime exposure, Salt water
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Layering, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Shape and thin as needed
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
-
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Maritime exposure, Salt water
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Environmental Uses
Erosion control, Wildlife
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree
Medicinal Uses
-
Anodyne, Appetizer, Astringent
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Flowers, Inner Bark, Sap
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used as a dye, used for making charcoal, Used for making informal hedge
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra
ALNUS rubra
Common Name
River Birch
Oregon Alder, Red Alder
In Hindi
River Birch
red alder
In German
Fluss Birch
rot-Erle
In French
Birch river
aulne rouge
In Spanish
river Birch
aliso rojo
In Greek
ποταμός Birch
κόκκινη σκλήθρα
In Portuguese
river Birch
amieiro vermelho
In Polish
Rzeka Birch
czerwony olcha
In Latin
Betula
red alnus
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Betulaceae
Betulaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Importance of River Birch and Red Alder
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of River Birch and Red Alder. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare River Birch and Red Alder 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 River Birch is whereas of Red Alder is Anodyne, Appetizer and Astringent. River Birch has beauty benefits as follows: while Red Alder has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of River Birch vs Red Alder
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 River Birch vs Red Alder 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 River Birch are Asthma whereas of Red Alder have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. River Birch has no showy fruits and Red Alder has showy fruits. Also River Birch is not flowering and Red Alder is not flowering . You can compare River Birch and Red Alder facts and facts of other plants too.