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Native Plant Database

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Alnus rubra Bong.

Red alder, Western alder

Betulaceae (Birch Family)

Synonyms: Alnus oregona

USDA Symbol: ALRU2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Graceful tree with straight trunk, pointed or rounded crown, and mottled, light gray to whitish, smooth bark. Alder roots, like those of legumes, often have swellings or root nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which enrich the soil by converting nitrogen from the air into chemicals like fertilizers that the plants can use. The common name describes the reddish-brown inner bark and heartwood.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Elliptic , Ovate
Leaf Venation: Pinnate
Leaf Margin: Double-serrate
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Inflorescence: Catkin
Size Notes: Height 20-40 feet, spread 20-30 feet.
Leaf: Dark green above.
Fruit: Conelike, 1/2 to 1 inch long.
Size Class: 12-36 ft. , 36-72 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , ID , OR , WA
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: SE. Alaska southeast to central California; also local in N. Idaho; to 2500 (762 m).
Native Habitat: Moist soils including loam, gravel, sand, and clay, along streams and lower slopes; often in nearly pure stands.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low

Benefit

Use Food: Used in smoking meats and fish.
Use Other: Furniture, veneer, cabinets. Bark was used by Indians for dyes.
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds , Softwood Cuttings
Seed Treatment: Best germination in full sun.
Maintenance: Can be shaped by pruning when young.

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 1149 - Alaska Trees And Shrubs (2007) Viereck, L. A. and Little, E. L.
Bibref 698 - Native Plants for Use in the California Landscape (1978) Labadie, E. L.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Alnus rubra in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Alnus rubra in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Alnus rubra

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-01-29
Research By: TWC Staff

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