![]() ![]() Here are 12 common alder trees and shrubs for your landscaping needs.The following is a list of recommended trees and shrubs for Western Washington. Spotting small differences within these features will help you identify specific species within the genus. Habitat: Alders are naturally found in wetland areas and along rivers.These trees lack the papery bark found in birches. Bark: All species have grayish, rough bark that develops fissures as the tree trunk expands.Female catkins are much shorter, purple in color, and gradually transform into cones containing seeds. Male catkins are long and turn yellow with pollen. Flowers: These are elongated catkins rather than blossoms.The leaves tend to turn brown rather than vibrant yellow or red in the fall. Mature leaves will have a rounded shape with notched edges, not the pointed tips found on birch trees. Leaves: Young leaves are sticky to the touch and are very shiny.The flowers attract pollinators, but the male flowers may cause allergy sufferers discomfort with the profuse pollen they produce.Īlder trees as a genus can be fairly easily distinguished from similar trees by inspecting various features: They typically grow well in moist areas, such as along riverbanks.Īlders make excellent hosts for many moth and butterfly larvae, plus birds are attracted to the strobiles. In the case of alders, it is with the Frankia bacteria. This quality allows them to grow in landscaping areas where other plants may struggle. Plants with nitrogen fixation capabilities form symbiotic relationships with bacteria that allow them to improve the soil on recently cleared land, for example. Since these trees are able to fix nitrogen in the soil, they can grow in less than fertile areas. Green leaves simply turn brown and fall from the tree as it prepares for dormancy. Though the majority of alder tree species are deciduous, these trees resist the brilliant autumn color change of most other deciduous species. ![]() When the female flowers are pollinated, they mature into small cones (called strobiles). Yellowish male flower clusters form into 1.2 to 3.9-inch slender, dropping cylinders, releasing their pollen in early spring (January-April). Female flowers begin developing as small, round green growths in the summer or fall before the next spring's bloom. As a monoecious species, alders self-pollinate. Both male and female flowers (catkins) appear on the trees. The most notable features of all varieties of alder trees are their catkins and strobiles. Few trees offer more useful versatility than the alder. The fruiting parts of the tree are edible, and substances within the bark have been used to create cancer-fighting drugs. Alder trees are good for many uses, ranging from building structural foundations, to making fine guitars, to providing wood chips used to flavor smoked meats. The thin bark and light wood of the alder tree make it obvious that this tree belongs with other Betulaceae species. The 30 members of the genus are classified in the Betulaceae family, which is more commonly known as the birch family. The Spruce Home Improvement Review BoardĪlder trees and shrubs ( Alnus spp.) are fast-growing and usually deciduous in nature. ![]()
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