Cox, Paul
Alnus serrulata (Ait.) Willd.
Hazel alder, Brookside alder, Tag alder, Common alder
Betulaceae (Birch Family)
A multiple-trunked, suckering
shrub, 12-20 ft. tall, with a picturesque habit and shiny gray-brown bark. Summer foliage is dark green and glossy, becoming yellow, tinged with red, in fall. Flowers are purple catkins; males in drooping clusters, females in upright clusters. The
fruit resembles a small, woody cone and persists through Feb. Sometimes a small
tree, commonly found at edge of water.
The only alder
native in southeastern United States, where it is common and widespread, forming thickets.
Image Gallery:
4 photo(s) available
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Red , Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr
Bloom Notes: Males green-brown, female reddish.
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CT , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , ME , MD , MA , MS , MO , NH , NJ , NY , NC , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VT , VA , WV , DC
Canada: NB ,
NS ,
PE ,
QC Native Distribution: N. FL to e. TX, n. to s.w. N.S. (locally), c. ME, c. VT, OH, s. IL, & s.e. MO
Native Habitat: Stream banks; bogs; swamp borders; wet meadows
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N) Growing Conditions
Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet , Moist
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Wet, fine sandy loams, peats & mucks.
Conditions Comments: Physiological problems are rare, however the wood is weak and breakage is common. Very flood tolerant. Alders fix nitrogen and thus serve as nutrient-giving pioneers in reclamation projects.
Benefit
Use Wildlife: An intermediate source of food for wildlife.
Attracts: Birds
Last Update: 2009-02-18
