Northwest Native Plants   Red Alder  

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Red Alder - alnus rubra

Appearance

  • Toothed edged leaves
  • Normally 4-6 inches long
  • Small, clustered, stubby cones
  • Small, winged seeds
  • About 120 feet tall

Red Alder

Habitat

  • This tree lives in wooded wetlands
  • It's often mixed with other trees
  • It lives in places that are sunny and have moist soils

Red Alder

Growth Habit

  • Red Alder is a perennial tree
  • In early spring catkins appear before the leaves
  • The name red may come from the red appearance of the tree when it is covered with catkins in the spring

Red Alder

Red AlderNatural History

  • Red Alder buds and seeds may be eaten by birds
  • Some Natives used the bark for different dyes
  • The wood is used for firewood and furniture