Shelterbelt Varieties for Alberta

Field shelterbelts conserve soil, protect crops, trap snow, provide wildlife habitat and beautify the landscape.

This information about shelterbelt species and recommendations for their suitability for various locations in Alberta. The recommendations are based on a 1991 survey. Recommendations are divided into three categories:

Recommended Area (shown on map with triangles): species is best suited for planting in this area.
Satisfactory Area (shown on map with lines): species is less suited for planting in this area due to one or more of the following:
Unsatisfactory Area (shown on map as white area): species performs poorly in this area

The recommendations are based on the plants being planted on non-irrigated sites with proper care and management practices being strictly followed. The Species Suitability Maps provide a general guide only.
Moisture and climate conditions, and insect and disease levels may vary within a given area.

Exceptions to the recommendations may apply if:

irrigation water is available for tree use or the planting site is a low lying area (higher soil moisture levels).
the planting site is a well protected area (excellent microclimate) and exceptional care and management practices are followed.
the planting site is in a "transitional zone" (a small zone along the boundary between two different recommendations).

Guide to Plant Characteristics

Variety	Height	Useful Life	Growth Rate	Spacing	# of Bundles per		Comments
	(metres)	(years)	(cm/yr)		mile	500m
Northwest Poplar	10-25	15-30	50-200	3m/10ft	51	17	Gall mites in south
Brooks Poplar	10-25	15-30	50-200	3m/10ft	51	17	Not drought tolerant
Griffin Poplar	6-15	10-20	30-150	3m/10ft	51	17	Cankers in moist areas
Cottonwood Poplar	12-15	100+	30-150	3m/10ft			Likes moisture
Laurel Leaf Willow	8-15	25-60	50-200	3m/10ft	51	17	Likes moisture
Acute Leaf Willow	8-15	25-60	50-200	3m/10ft	51	17	Likes moisture
Golden Willow	7-12	25-60	50-150	3m/10ft			Likes moisture
Peach Leaf Willow	5-8	25-60	15-100	3m/10ft	51	17	Likes moisture
Manitoba Maple	7-12	25-60	10-60	3m/10ft	51	17	Brittle wood
Green Ash	12-20	50-90	10-60	2m/6ft	75	25
Bur Oak	10-14	100+	5-30	3m/10ft			Large seed
White Birch	6-12	15-50	10-45	2m/6ft			Likes moisture
Mayday	5-10	12-50	15-60	2m/6ft	75	25	White blooms
Chokecherry	4-8	renovate	10-50	2m/6ft	75	25
Sea Buckthorn	4-6	renovate	10-20	1.5m/4.5ft			Orange fruit
Red Elder	3-4	renovate	15-30	1.5m/4.5ft	102	34
Caragana	3-5	50+	15-45	0.5m/1.5ft	300	100	Best in drier areas
Villosa Lilac	3-5	50+	5-30	1m/3ft	150	50	Few suckers
Common Lilac	3-4	50+	5-30	1m/3ft	150	50	Many suckers
Honeysuckle	2-3	30+	10-30	1m/3ft	150	50	Severe aphid problems
Hedge Rose	2-3	25+	10-45	1m/3ft	150	50
Altai Rose	2-3	25+	10-45	1m/3ft
Silver Buffaloberry	2-3	25+	10-30	1.5m/4.5ft	102	34
Cherry Princepia	2-4	25+	10-30	1.5m/4.5ft	42	14	Large seed
Dogwood	2-3	rejuvenate	10-45	1m/3ft	150	50	Best in moister areas
White Spruce	10-20	50-100	30-60	3m/10ft	53	17	Not good in hot areas
Colorado Spruce	10-25	50-100	30-60	3m/10ft	53	17
Norway Spruce	8-20	50-100	25-50	3m/10ft	53	17	Not good in hot areas
Lodgepole Pine	12-25	50-100	30-90	3m/10ft			Not good in hot areas
Scots Pine	12-25	50-100	30-90	3m/10ft	53	17
Siberian Larch	10-15	up to 100	20-150	3m/10ft	53	17	Likes good drainage

Height at maturity, useful life, and growth rate depend upon moisture conditions, cleanliness, location and exposure

- the smaller numbers are the height, useful age, and growth rate that could be expected in FAIR growing conditions.

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For more information about the content of this document, contact Toso Bozic.
This document is maintained by Brenda McLellan.
This information published to the web on May 4, 2001.
Last Reviewed/Revised on December 18, 2017.