Native Plants
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Alnus viridis ssp. crispa
Alnus viridis (Chaix) DC. ssp. crispa (Aiton) Turrill
Mountain Alder, Green Alder, Sitka Alder
Betulaceae (Birch Family)
Synonym(s): Alnus crispa, Alnus crispa var. elongata, Alnus crispa var. mollis, Alnus viridis var. crispa, Alnus ×hultenii, Duschekia viridis
USDA Symbol: ALVIC
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N), GL (N), SPM (N)
A shrub usually to 9 ft., diminishing in mature height with greater altitude. Pendent, yellow-green male catkins appear before the oval, alternate leaves are fully out. Cone-like female flowers remain on the shrub all winter.
Alders fix nitrogen and thus serve as nutrient-giving pioneers in reclamation projects.
From the Image Gallery
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Pinnate
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Fruit Type: Samara
Size Notes: Up to about 12 feet tall, often shorter.
Leaf: Green.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: MA , ME , MI , MN , NC , NH , NY , PA , TN , VT , WI , WYCanada: AB , MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , SK
Native Distribution: Lab. to AK, s. to New England mts., n. NY, n. MI, n. MN, Man. & n.w. WY; rarely in mts. of TN & NC
Native Habitat: Bogs; shores; cold woods; balds
Growing Conditions
Water Use: HighLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Rocky soils
Conditions Comments: Alders fix nitrogen and thus serve as nutrient-giving pioneers in reclamation projects. Soil conditioner - fixes nitrogen.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
From the Archive
Wildflower Newsletter 1990 VOL. 7, NO.2 - Preservation Blooms in Recreated Prairies, New Wildflower Center Prairie Welcome...Additional resources
USDA: Find Alnus viridis ssp. crispa in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Alnus viridis ssp. crispa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Alnus viridis ssp. crispa
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-10-13Research By: TWC Staff