![]() The flowers are catkins which are often but not always yellow. In the fall, those of many species turn brown instead of yellow or red. Mature ones will be rounder and have serrated edges. What Does an Alder Tree Look Like?Īlders are most often found in wetlands or by bodies of water. Over time a desolate ground can become a beautiful Alder landscape. Some animals and root systems survived underground beneath the ash, but pioneer species like the Alder were largely responsible for restoring life to the area. For example, in 1980 after the volcanic eruptions at Mount Saint Helens, much of the local ecosystem was wiped out. 4 Pioneer SpeciesĪ loose definition of pioneer species is one that is among the first to populate a barren ecosystem. In Irish folklore, passing an Alder Tree during a journey was considered bad luck. In England green dye from the Alder was used to color the clothing of woodsman. The tree has also been said to represent with its roots a cultural rooting, and with its leaves proliferation of the community’s children. It symbolizes both the local ecology and wood industry. One use of the Alder image is on the coat of arms of the Austrian town Grossarl. 1Įven after Alders die, as snags they provide homes for various birds, or dens for reptiles, amphibians, and fish Because of common proximity to water, the dead tree releases nutrients into the water that can spread to support a vast array of life. Thus Alders help make large quantities of essential nitrogen available to the local ecosystem. The tree, in return, provides the bacterium with carbohydrates produced through photosynthesis. This bacterium basically takes nitrogen out of the air and makes it available to the Alder. Perhaps its most interesting ecological contribution is ‘nitrogen fixation.’ The Alder has a symbiotic relationship with Frankia alni, an actinomycete, filamentous, nitrogen-fixing bacterium. For example, butterflies and moths feed on their leaves and catkins. The Alder Tree is critical to earth’s ecosystem. Here are some interesting facts about Alder Trees. Saplings can grow up to 10 feet per year. A Black Alder can grow from around 7.5-16 inches per year until it reaches maturity, and a Red Alder can do similarly.Ī 20-year-old Red Alder may be more than 70 feet tall. ![]() Growth rate is dependent on species and environment. The Black Alder is hardy in US zones 3-7, and the Red Alder in zones 6-8. Growing zones for Alder Tree (where to grow) vary by species. Alder Tree Height, Canopy and Growing ZonesĪ Black Alder can grow to up to 60 feet and reds can reach up to 80.Īlder Trees are often pyramidal when young and can have a canopy about 1/3 the width of their height. Alders are most usually found in wetlands or by bodies of water. The Black Alder is native to most of continental Europe, as well as Great Britain and Ireland. You can find Alder Trees in Washington State, for example, as well as parts of Canada. The Red Alder is native to North America. Some species will have a membrane margin to facilitate wide dispersal or will have webbing to trap air pockets in order to travel by water. They grow in fertilized Alder cones tree and usually drop at maturity in fall or winter. Alder Tree SeedsĪlder Tree seeds are usually small, circular, and of dark color. As it matures, the cone opens, releasing the seeds. Once a female catkin is pollinated it gradually hardens and becomes woody, transforming into a small conical fruit. It can be stained, fissured, or covered in lichen. It can range from dark brown in some species to close white in others. Alder Tree BarkĪlder Trees have scaly bark (like Cottonwood Tree bark). They are usually pollinated by wind, but sometimes by bees. One Alder Tree carries both male and female catkins, the males being longer. The flowers are catkins – a slim cluster of many flowers with minimal or no petals. To see an example of a tree with colorful blossoms, check out this article on the pros and cons of Redbud Trees. ![]() The Alder produces catkin flowers rather than blossoms. So usually as a Black Alder grows, the lower branches will die off, leaving the tree with an upper canopy and relatively bare trunk. The Black Alder usually keeps its greenness and leaves late into the autumn. They are usually dark green on their upper side, like a Cottonwood Tree leaf, and have a more pale underside. ![]() Red Alder leaves can be from 7 to 15 centimeters long.īlack Alder leaves rarely exceed 10 centimeters in length. Older leaves will usually be of oval shape and have serrated edges, rather than the consistent ones of Dogwood Tree leaves, for example.
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