And alder is only marginally harder than softwoods such as timber from pine or poplar trees. Alder wood isn’t as durable as walnut, ash, or maple wood. Timber from alder trees is extremely workable due to its relative softness. The colorful reddish-brown or yellow-brown catkins contrast with the pale gray, almost white bark and branches.Īlder trees are classed as hardwood trees. The pendulous catkins are soft and limp, with a furry feel to them.Īlder flowers develop and bloom on bare branches. The alder male flowers are elongated, drooping clusters that grow up to 6” (15 cm) long. The female flowers persist on the tree until fall when they become hardened cones called strobiles. Then smaller female catkins grow upright at the end of branches. You can recognize an alder tree by the conspicuous dangling male flowers that are first to bloom. The female flowers turn into the recognizable stiff, woody cones that alder trees are known for.Īlder trees tend to bloom early in the season, sometimes in late winter. Alders are also monoecious trees-meaning they have male and female flowers on the same tree. Alder Tree LeavesĪlder male flowers (catkins) are long and slender whereas the female flowers turn to woody round cones (strobiles)Īn alder tree flower is a type of slender, conical flower cluster called a catkin. Alder female flowers become woody conical cones that turn brown during the fall. The difference between alders and birches is their cones. Like the trunk, branches are covered with light gray to dark gray bark.Īlder trees are related to birch trees ( Betula). The arching branches are covered with shiny green pointed ovate or rounded leaves, most of which have distinct serration along the margins. This fact makes alders popular for re-foresting land where there is poor soil or drainage.Īn alder tree’s arching, conical crown is made up of crooked, gnarled branches. You will find alders growing alongside rivers, stream banks, swampy ground, and wetlands. However, some alder trees live for up to 100 years.Ī notable feature of the alder species is that the trees grow well in soggy, wet ground. Generally, alders are fast-growing trees that live between 60 and 70 years. Most alder species thrive in USDA zones 5 through 8 however, some individual species may be more or less cold-hardy. Many species of alders grow between 66 and 100 ft. There are about 35 alder species, comprising of large trees and smaller shrub-like trees. Alder Tree FactsĪlders are large deciduous trees that grow well in wet areasĪlder ( Alnus) is a genus of flowering deciduous trees in the family Betulaceae. You will find out how alder bark, leaves, flowers, and cones help identify this stately tree. This article is a complete guide to identifying the most common alder trees in forests, woodlands, and parks. However, some smaller species of alder make excellent hedge shrubs for privacy and security. The large trees, wide canopy, and love of wet areas mean that they’re not ideal trees for garden landscapes. The alder cones develop from catkins (conical flower clusters) and stay on the tree throughout the winter, giving the bare branches a distinguishable look.Īlder trees are uncommon in residential landscapes. It’s easy to identify alders in landscapes due to their vast, rounded crown, serrated green leaves, and brown conifer-like cones. 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.Īlders grow as tall shade trees or large shrubs that thrive in marshy, damp ground. Share on Email Share on Pinterest Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedInĪlder trees (botanical name Alnus) are tall deciduous trees known for their drooping flower clusters and brown woody cones called strobiles.
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