Alnus incana
Gray Alder
Please register or login to build your personal plant list.Gray Alder is a small, flood-tolerant, deciduous tree. It is monoecious (separate male and female flowers bloom on the same plant). Both flowers...
Description:
Gray Alder is a small, flood-tolerant, deciduous tree. It is monoecious (separate male and female flowers bloom on the same plant). Both flowers are purple-red catkins; the female flower is followed by a woody, cone-like structure containing the seeds. Birds, such as redpolls, siskins, chickadees, and goldfinches, feed on the seeds. This tree grows fast, but is short-lived, usually not lasting beyond 40 years. It prefers moist to wet soils and is flood-tolerant. Alder is a nitrogen-fixing species, adding nutrients to the soil. For these reasons, Gray Alder is planted as a pioneer species for revegetating disturbed areas along streams or ponds. It can also be massed for a windbreak or used for erosion control.
Plant Details:
Plant Type: Shrub, Tree
New Jersey Native: Yes
Bloom Times: Spring
Bloom Colors: Red, Purple
Deer Resistance: Some
Attracts Pollinators and Wildlife: Bees and Other Pollinators, Birds
Salt Tolerance: Low to None
Hardiness Zone: 6a
Physiographic Region: Ridge & Valley - RV, Highland - H
Soil Characteristics
Soil Type: Loam, Organic, Sandy, Clay
Soil Moisture: Moist, Wet
Soil pH: Acidic, Slightly Acidic, Neutral
Light Needs of Plant
Optimal Light: Full Sun
Light Range: Full Sun, Partial Shade
Water Needs of Plant
Soil Moisture: Moist, Wet
Drought Tolerance: Low
Size and Growth Rate
Height: 15 - 35 ft
Spread: 15 - 35 ft
Growth Rate: Fast