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Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata (Mountain alder)
Weyand, Phyllis

Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata (Regel) A.& D. Löve

Mountain alder, Sitka alder

Betulaceae (Birch Family)

Synonyms: Alnus sinuata

USDA Symbol: ALVIS

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A thicket-forming shrub, 10-15 ft. tall, with short, nearly horizontal branches forming a narrow crown. The shiny, oval, toothed leaves and catkins develop with the leaves on growth of the current season. Bark is reddish-brown, becoming gray-black.

In Alaska, Sitka Alder is a pioneer in disturbed areas, following landslides, logging, and glacial retreat. Adapted to soils too barren for other trees, this subspecies improves soil conditions by adding organic matter and nitrogen from bacteria in its root nodules. It acts as a short-lived nurse tree for Sitka Spruce, later dying when shaded by the larger conifer.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Ovate
Leaf Venation: Pinnate
Leaf Margin: Double-serrate
Leaf Texture: Papery
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Inflorescence: Catkin
Size Notes: Height 20-40 feet.
Leaf: Green to yellow-green above and paler green below.
Autumn Foliage: yes
Fruit: Brown Cone 1/2 to 1 inch long.
Size Class: 12-36 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , ID , MT , OR , WA , WY
Canada: AB , BC
Native Distribution: AK to n. CA & through the Rockies to WY
Native Habitat: Moist woods; stream banks; pond margins; open, mt. slopes
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
Soil Description: Moist soils.
Conditions Comments: Useful in erosion control. Alders fix nitrogen and thus serve as nutrient-giving pioneers in reclamation projects.

Benefit

Attracts: Birds

Propagation

Description: Propagated from freshly collected seeds released from the female conelets in fall.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: If seeds have dried in storage, a cool-moist stratification at 41 degrees for 180 days will be necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed 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

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 viridis ssp. sinuata in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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