Melinda Myers

Common Alder

Botanical Name

Alnus glutinosa

Hardiness

Zones 4 to 7

Height

40 to 60 feet

Width

20 to 40 feet

Flowers

Male catkins, female purplish egg shaped strobile

Fruit

Winged nutlet borne on egg-shaped woody strobile, persistent

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil

Moist to wet

Planting & Care

• Transplants easily in spring
• Good tree for reclamation sites
• Fixes own nitrogen

Problems

Wooly alder aphid, tent caterpillar, can become invasive

Varieties

• Laciniata - dissected leaves
• Pyramidalis - upright, narrow spread, good disease resistance