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Black Alder -- Alnus glutinosa -- Questions about ???

15 years ago

Can anyone tell me about Black Alder?

I have to do home visits about every 10 days with a client who lives in an older subdivision. As is typical here in SE Michigan, ash trees were used extensively as roadside shade trees, and then died out due to emerald ash borer.

The subdivision apparently replaced the dead ash with, IMO, a pretty impressive diversity of trees -- among them, Kentucky Coffee, Red Buckeye, Tree Lilac, Ginko, Bald Cypress, Katsura, Tulip Tree, Sycamores, Sawtooth oak, so on and so forth.

Now, I'm pretty good with trees, and pretty observant. So, I spotted several specimens of something I didn't recognize. Glossy green foliage wich is hanging on much later than the other trees. I stopped on Wednesday and took a closer look. When I saw that it had catkins very similar to birch, and small, hard "cones" I knew that it was probably an Alder.

So, I looked at some pictures on the internet -- it is definitely Black Alder.

Does anyone have any experience with this tree -- growth rate, hardiness, good and bad points? I really like the looks of the foliage and the cones, and I think it might be a nice addition to my yard.

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Comments (4)

pineresin
15 years ago
Fairly fast growth, very hardy. Bad points: potentially invasive in USA; not good on dry soils, and does not have the slightest understanding of the concept of "autumn colour".

Are the leaves almost perfectly circular? If not, it's possible you might have Italian Alder Alnus cordata - very glossy leaves, holds its leaves even later than Black Alder (early-mid December here), and exceptionally good on very bad soils including heavily compacted clay; also much more drought tolerant. Fast growing, and the most attractive alder, though also no autumn colour at all.

Resin
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
wrong name.. the show was Blackadder ... lol

truly inspired madness ... sorta like the suggestion that this tree can be invasive ....

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link
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Hmm not sure of its tolerance of dry soils as its normally a coppice tree found near water, similar habit to willows: Cultivation Ã¢ÂÂJump back a section Timber It is important as coppice-wood on marshy ground. The alder is capable of enduring clipping as well as marine climatic conditions. The tree may be cultivated as a windbreak. It adapts to the conditions fast and the young trees also develop rapidly, almost growing about one meter or more in a year. Hence, the alder is an outstanding pioneer species for reinstating forestland or abandoned farmland and other problematic soils that do not support vegetation easily. Its rapid growth provides secluded conditions to establish more lasting forest trees. Besides, as nitrogen-fixing bacteria colonize the roots, it is able to enrich the soil and thereby help the proper growth of other plants which cannot cope with the impoverished conditions. Alder also provides shade to the plants growing below and the leaf fall helps to increase the amount of humus present in the soil. The species is cultivated as a tree in parks and gardens, and the variety 'Imperialis' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. [8] You might also want to consider the Italian Alder (A.cordata) with dainty, slender leaves and a more slender profile.
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Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
15 years ago
Alder is a ruderal genus: evolved to come in quickly to a disturbed area, grow quickly to maturity and die off when outcompeted by other trees. The stored energy in the plant is quickly broken down in the ecosystem and provides energy and nutrients to the plants replacing it. IOW: fast growing, fast dying, messy. When I used to practice in Sacramento, at one time Italian alder was planted and they all started dying at once, about 20 years-ish later.

Try another tree. They are not suited to the typical 'burb lot. A couple acres, why not as long as it is not invasive in your area and has plenty of water.

Dan
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arbordave (SE MI)
15 years ago
Black alder is definitely considered invasive in Michigan and should not be planted where it could potentially seed into natural areas (i.e. near wetlands & watercourses).

Here is a link that might be useful: Forest Service fact sheet
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