Skip to main content
Description

Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Oval, Pyramidal.

Alnus rubra is a deciduous Tree growing to 20 m at a fast rate.
It is hardy to zone 6. It is in flower in March, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is monoecious and is pollinated by Wind.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: medium and heavy soils and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic soils. It can grow in semi-shade or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Cultivation

Agroforestry Services: Alley crop Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen Fodder: Bank Management: Coppice Management: Standard Regional Crop
Landscape Uses:Border, Erosion control, Woodland garden. Prefers a heavy soil and a damp situation. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates very infertile sites. A very wind resistant tree with excellent establishment in severely exposed sites, it tolerates severe maritime exposure. The red alder is a very fast growing tree, even when planted in severe exposure, but it is short-lived, dying when 60 - 80 years old. Trees that are 5 years old from seed have reached 6 metres in height on a very exposed site in Cornwall, they are showing no signs of wind-shaping. This is an important pioneer tree, quickly invading logged or burnt over sites, and providing ideal conditions for other trees to become established. A very ornamental tree. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil micro-organisms, these form nodules on the roots of the plants and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby. Red alder has been estimated to fix as much as 300 kg of nitrogen per hectare. Special Features: Attracts birds, North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

HabitatsMoist rich soils in woods
Habitatsusually below 600 metres and within 50 km of the coast.
HabitatsWoodland Garden Canopy
HabitatsHedge
HabitatsBog Garden
HabitatsWoodland Garden Canopy
HabitatsHedge
HabitatsBog Garden
x

Please add some content in Animated Sidebar block region. For more information please refer to this tutorial page:

Add content in animated sidebar