Himalayan Alder (Alnus nitida)
- Native Area: Pakistan, western Himalayas, Nepal
- USDA Zones: 7 to 10
- Height : 65 to 80 feet
- Exposure: Full to part sun
What kind of tree is an alder?
alder, (genus Alnus ), genus of about 30 species of ornamental shrubs and trees in the birch family (Betulaceae). Alders are distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere and in parts of western South America on cool wet sites at elevations up to 2,500 metres (8,200 feet).
Where do alder trees grow in Canada?
This was probably during colonial times, and it has become naturalised in eastern Canada and the northeast of the USA. Alder is found throughout Scotland, although its presence in Shetland is due to planting.
Where do beach alder trees grow in the US?
Native Area: North America: Pacific coast, SE Alaska, BC, WA, OR, Southern CA, Northern ID Also known as a beach alder, the name is a bit of a misnomer since these trees are found in northeastern coastal regions but never on the coast.
Where can alder be found?
In California it is found primarily along the coast from San Luis Obispo County northward. In southern california Alnus rhombifolia is the more commonly found alder.
What is special about alder trees?
Alder trees can extract and use nitrogen from the air in the same way that legumes, such as beans and peas do. Since they don't need nitrogen fertilizer, they are ideal for areas that aren't regularly maintained.
Where do alder trees grow Europe?
The European alder is a loose to well-branched medium-sized deciduous tree that lives in Central Europe at altitudes of 1.200 meters (4000 ft) and in the Engadin sporadically also at altitudes up to 1.800 meters (5900 ft) can be found.
Are alder trees common?
Several species of alder trees are native to North America and Europe, with the Red Alder (Alnus rubra) and Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa) being the two most common. Alders grow as tall shade trees or large shrubs that thrive in marshy, damp ground.
Is alder an expensive wood?
Maple and alder are at two different points in the spectrum of cost, appearance and durability. One is considered an affordable mid-grade wood, while the other is a premium hardwood with a price to match.
Is alder good to burn?
Alder firewood is considered to be a hardwood type of firewood; however, it is softer than Ash, Oak and Hornbeam wood. Softer types of firewood tend to burn quicker, but they offer a wonderful burning experience; quick and easy to light, high heat output and a bright and lively flame to look at.
Where do alder trees grow in the UK?
In lowland Britain, especially in the west, alder trees are the main native tree to be found along streams and small rivers. Alder trees also lie along streams and small river valleys in upland areas. Its second natural habitat is marshland or boggy ground which it encroaches onto forming woodlands known as alder carr.
Are alder native to UK?
Alder is native to almost the whole of continental Europe (except for both the extreme north and south) as well as the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Is alder native to Ireland?
Alder is one of the most common native woodland trees found growing throughout Ireland but is naturally widespread throughout all of Europe.
Do alder trees grow in Texas?
Smooth alder is a small, largely thicket-forming tree to 40 feet tall found in open, sunny areas of the east Texas Pineywoods. It requires full sun, soils that are acid or at least neutral, and copious moisture, preferring to grow on edges of ponds, streams, swamps, and sloughs.
Do alder trees grow in Europe?
Alnus glutinosa, the common alder, black alder, European alder, European black alder, or just alder, is a species of tree in the family Betulaceae, native to most of Europe, southwest Asia and northern Africa.
Do alder trees grow in Florida?
Alnus serrulata, the hazel alder or smooth alder, is a thicket-forming shrub in the family Betulaceae. It is native to eastern North America and can be found from western Nova Scotia and southern New Brunswick south to Florida and Texas.
Are alder trees strong?
Alder has the highest hardwood lumber grade among all hardwood species, achieving an impressive 83% clear face. Besides having a nice grain, Alder wood is also very lightweight (though strong). It can give a smooth, glassy surface for furniture and other interior decorations.
Is alder wood hard or soft?
Cherry Vs Alder Hardness While both are considered hard woods, alder is rated at 590 on the Janka hardness scale, and cherry is rated significantly higher at 950. The Janka hardness rating scale is an industry scale used to show the relative hardness of common wood species.
Do alder trees fix nitrogen?
Red alder, the most widely distributed commercial hardwood in the Pa cific Northwest, supports nitrogen-fixing bacteria within nodules on its roots. Alder or other nitrogen-fixing plants can improve site productivity and growth of associated conifers by adding nitrogen and organic matter to the soil.
Are alder trees good for wildlife?
Wildlife – Alder provides many benefits to wildlife. The pollen from the catkin is an early source of pollen for bees, and if the branches are above a stream or river, the seeds are a food source for fish. Alder is a good species for reforestation, and provide excellent shelter for wildlife in wet areas.
How to identify an alder tree?
Alder trees are easily identified by their brown hard, cone-like strobiles that dangle from bare brown-purple twigs that have orange markings. You can also spot alder trees by their light gray bark and orange-brown drooping flowers. Another identifying feature of the alder trees is their pointed egg-shaped green leaves with serrated edges.
What are the leaves on an alder tree?
Generally, alder tree leaves are egg-shaped blades with a central vein and parallel veins from the midriff to the serrated leaf edge. Some alder tree leaves have toothed edges and pointed tips, whereas others are rounded and smooth.
What is the difference between a male and female alder tree?
Alder Tree Flowers. Alder male flowers (catkins) are long and slender whereas the female flowers turn to woody round cones (strobiles) An alder tree flower is a type of slender, conical flower cluster called a catkin. Alders are also monoecious trees—meaning they have male and female flowers on the same tree.
How long does a black alder flower grow?
Female black alder flowers only grow up to 1” (2.5 cm) long, and they bloom on the end of branches. Black alder catkins and cones. Black alder fruit is the characteristic black cones that develop from female catkins. The alder cones measure up to 1” (2.5 cm) and can be black or a coppery-brown color.
How tall does a green alder grow?
Green alder shrubs grow up to 32 ft. (10 m) tall but are more likely to be 3 – 10 ft. (1 – 3 m). The multiple stems grow in clusters, making the green alder a suitable deciduous plant to grow as a hedge.
How big do alder trees get?
Alder ( Alnus) is a genus of flowering deciduous trees in the family Betulaceae. There are about 35 alder species, comprising of large trees and smaller shrub-like trees. Many species of alders grow between 66 and 100 ft. (20 – 30 m) tall.
What is the name of the tree with the brown cones?
Trees. Alder trees (botanical name Alnus) are tall deciduous trees known for their drooping flower clusters and brown woody cones called strobiles. Several species of alder trees are native to North America and Europe, with the Red Alder ( Alnus rubra) and Black Alder ( Alnus glutinosa) being the two most common.
What family is an alder tree?
The 30 members of the genus are classified in the Betulaceae family, which is more commonly known as the birch family. The thin bark and light wood of the Alder tree make it obvious that this tree belongs with other Betulaceae species. The most notable features of all varieties of alder trees is its catkins and strobiles.
Where does the Himalayan alder tree come from?
The Himalayan alder originates is native to the Himalayan mountains and Pakistan. This tree is known for its useful applications, including providing dye or hardwood for furniture-making. The bark is also said to have anti-inflammatory properties and a variety of herbal remedies exist using this and other alder species.
How did the black alder get its name?
Its Latin name, Alnus glutinosa, tips you off that this tree develops a gummy resin on new leaves and buds. Take note that this alder species can become invasive in some areas. 1 If you prefer the look of leaves that are dissected (divided into many sections), look for the 'Laciniata' and 'Imperialis' cultivars.
What is the color of the bark on an alder tree?
Also known as a speckled alder or mountain alder, this species is commonly seen in the Rocky Mountains of North America. These trees have smooth, gray bark and the underside of the leaves also has a gray appearance. While most other alder trees produce yellow catkins, this tree has reddish-purple catkins that appear each spring.
How tall is a white alder tree?
The white alder grows at a fast pace to about 30 feet in height, before slowly creeping towards its full maturation of 50 feet. Some of the tallest specimens of this species have been known to reach 100 feet. The tree gets its common name from its bark color, which ranges from white to gray. It's a good choice if you have a soggy spot in your yard or garden and it has deep green leaves with a fresh fragrance.
What is the name of the tree with gummy leaves?
Its Latin name, Alnus glutinosa, tips you off that this tree develops a gummy resin on new leaves and buds. Take note that this alder species can become invasive in some areas. 1 If you prefer the look of leaves that are dissected (divided into many sections), look for the 'Laciniata' and 'Imperialis' cultivars.
What is the name of the hardwood tree in the Pacific Northwest?
For this reason, it's aptly known as the Pacific Coast alder or Oregon alder. You can identify this species from the others in the genus by the fact that the margins of the leaves curl under. The bark can be used to make different colors of natural dyes .
Where is alder found?
Distribution in Scotland. Alder is found throughout Scotland, although its presence in Shetland is due to planting.
Where is black alder native to?
Its range also includes the Caucasus, Iran, Turkey and North Africa, where it is native to Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. It has been introduced to North America. This was probably during colonial times, and it has become naturalised in eastern Canada and ...
What fungus grows in alder catkins?
The fruits of the brown cup fungus appear in spring, on alder catkins after they have fallen to the ground. A rare fungus called Taphrina amentorum grows in the flowers and seeds of young alder catkins.
Why is alder important to fish?
As a deep-rooted species, it helps to maintain the soil in river banks and reduces the effects of erosion. Alder root systems which are exposed in the water can give shelter to fish and provide a safe refuge from predators. Alder foliage provides shade which is beneficial to fish , including salmon and brown trout.
How does alder help the bacterium?
Alder, in turn, provides the bacterium with carbon, which it produces through photosynthesis. This relationship allows alder to improve the fertility of the soils where it grows. As a pioneer species, it helps provide nutrients for the successional species which follow.
How big are alder buds?
The buds are 7 mm. in length. Alder is deciduous, and the new leaves open out in April. They are up to 10 cm. in size with a waved margin and are almost circular in shape. Sometimes they have a notch at the apex, and they taper to a slight point on the leaf stem.
What is the color of alder bark?
Alder bark is dark grey and fissured, while the young branches are smooth and greenish in colour. Branches are ascending in their growth form, and trees with two or three main trunks are common. The twigs are sometimes sticky to the touch.
What is an alder tree?
In addition to their economic importance as cultivated ornamentals, alder trees are also useful timber trees. Alder wood, pale yellow to reddish brown, is fine-textured and durable, even underwater; it is useful for furniture, cabinetry, and turnery and in charcoal manufacture and millwork. Red and European alders are commonly used for timber.
Where is the European alder?
Subscribe Now. The European alder ( A. glutinosa ), sometimes known as black alder for its dark bark and cones, is widespread throughout Eurasia and is cultivated in several varieties in North America.
What are the different types of alders?
Familiar North American alders are the red alder ( Alnus rubra ), a tall tree whose leaves have rusty hairs on their lower surfaces; the white, or Sierra, alder ( A. rhombifolia ), an early-flowering tree with orange-red twigs and buds; the gray, or speckled, alder ( A. incana ), a small shrubby tree, often with conspicuous whitish, wartlike, porous markings, or lenticels; and the aromatic-leaved American green alder ( A. viridis ). A number of these species are also found in Europe, including the green alder and gray alder.
How to tell if an alder is a birch or a birch?
Physical description. An alder may be distinguished from a birch tree by its usually stalked winter buds and by conelike structures that remain on the branches after the small winged nutlets are released. The scaly bark is grayish brown in some species and almost white in others.
When do broad leaf trees shed their leaves?
Temperate broad-leaved trees expand their foliage in spring, grow rapidly in summer, and shed all their leaves each fall.…. The genus Alnus (alders) is north temperate in distribution but ranges south through the Andes to about latitude 20° S.
What is an alder tree?
Alder trees ( Alnus spp.) are often used in re-forestation projects and to stabilize soil in wet areas, but you seldom see them in residential landscapes. Nurseries that cater to home gardeners rarely offer them for sale, but when you can find them, these handsome plants make excellent shade trees and screening shrubs.
How to identify an alder tree?
Alder Tree Identification. The easiest way of recognizing an alder tree is by its distinctive little fruiting body, called a strobile. They appear in fall and look like 1 inch (2.5 cm.) long cones. Strobiles remain on the tree until the following spring, and the small, nutlike seeds they contain supply winter food for birds and small mammals.
How to tell the difference between a red and white alder?
You can distinguish these two trees by their leaves. The leaves on a red alder are tightly rolled under along the edges, while those on a white alder are more flat. Sitka and thinleaf alders reach heights of no more than 25 feet (7.5 m.). They can be grown as large shrubs or small trees.
How tall do alder trees grow?
Tree types grow 40 to 80 feet (12-24 m.) tall, and include the red and white alders. You can distinguish these two trees by their leaves.
Do alder trees have female flowers?
The female flowers on an alder tree stand upright at the ends of the twigs, while the male catkins are longer and hang down. The catkins persist into winter. Once the leaves are gone, they add subtle grace and beauty to the tree, softening the appearance of the bare branches. Leaves provide another method of alder tree identification.
How tall is an alder tree?
Facts About the Alder Tree. Native to the United Kingdom, the alder tree's official Latin name is alnus glutinosa. It can grow to a towering 40 to 80 feet in height when it is fully grown depending on the type of alder. It is part of the birch family, which you can see in its attractive, light-gray bark that is speckled with white. Advertisement.
What is the best alder tree?
Black Alder: Mostly found in Europe, this type of alder tree is known for its height. White Alder: While most alders prefer to be close to a water source such as streams, rivers and marshy wetlands, this type of alder can withstand drier climates. Green Alder: Small and slow growing with a crown of bright, bushy green leaves, ...
Why are my alder leaves green?
The egg-shaped leaves drop to the ground – perfectly green – in winter to reveal the showy seeds that make this tree so attractive during the colder months. The red alder has a leaf that has a crisp cur on its outer edges. The white alder has leaves that are flatter along the edges.
What is green alder?
Green Alder: Small and slow growing with a crown of bright, bushy green leaves, this alder can adapt to soil and weather conditions and is often used as a shrub for landscaping. Advertisement.
What tree produces seeds?
The way that the alder tree produces its seeds is slightly fascinating to arborists. It is the only native British deciduous tree that creates cones. The seeds are grown in rather small cones that pop out from the thin branches of a mature alder tree.
How tall does Sitka Alder grow?
Sitka Alder: It has thin leaves and grows to about 25 feet in height at its full maturity. They are sometimes used as shrubs for privacy or wind protection. Red Alder: This is the largest species that can grow to nearly 80 feet at its peak. They can also be found in the Pacific Northwest.
Is an alder tree hardy?
This hardy tree is often used when an area is under reforestation. It stabilizes soil in rainy, wet areas. The wide, leafy canopy makes the alder tree a perfect shade tree for home gardeners. The cones are bitter tasting but have a high protein content.
How do you identify an alder tree?
Wondering if you are looking at an alder tree? Your clues are their leaves, buds, catkins and cones. Here’s what they look like at-a-glance:
Alder tree facts
Hello! In today’s guide we are going to learn how to identify an alder tree. Are you ready? Let’s get started! Here are a few alder facts:
Alder leaves
Alder leaves are identified by their rounded shape, leathery texture and indented tips.
