Common Alder
Alnus glutinosa
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. It thrives in wet locations where its association with the bacterium Frankia alni enables it to grow in poor quality soils. It is a medium-sized, short-lived tree growing to a height of up to 30 metres (98 feet). It has short-stalked rounded leaves and separate male and female flowers in the form of catkins. The small, rounded fruits are cone-like and the seeds are dispersed by wind and water.
Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
At a glance
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Water need
- High
- Mature height
- 10 m
- Maintenance
- Low
- Hardiness
- USDA 3–7
- Layers
- canopy
Functional roles
Propagation
How to make more of this plant for free — the permaculture way.
When: Sow seed autumn; hardwood cuttings winter
Nitrogen fixer; thrives on wet ground; good nurse/windbreak tree.
Where to get it
Read more
Seed data pending expert review. Identification photo and description are sourced from Wikipedia/Wikimedia; always confirm a plant in person before eating any part of it.