photo of Alnus incana

Alnus incana

Gray Alder

register or login to use the plant listPlease 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...

See Details Below

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