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Summary
Duration	Perennial
Growth Habit	Tree
U.S. Nativity	Introduced to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator	FACW-
Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period	Spring and Summer
After Harvest Regrowth Rate
Bloat	None
C:N Ratio	High
Coppice Potential	No
Fall Conspicuous	No
Fire Resistant	No
Flower Color
Flower Conspicuous	No
Foliage Color	Green
Foliage Porosity Summer	Moderate
Foliage Porosity Winter	Porous
Foliage Texture	Medium
Fruit/Seed Color	Brown
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous	No
Growth Form	Multiple Stem
Growth Rate	Rapid
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet)	40
Height, Mature (feet)	60
Known Allelopath	No
Leaf Retention	No
Lifespan	Moderate
Low Growing Grass	No
Nitrogen Fixation	Medium
Resprout Ability	Yes
Shape and Orientation	Erect
Toxicity	None
Growth Requirements
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils	Yes
Anaerobic Tolerance	None
CaCO3 Tolerance	Low
Cold Stratification Required	Yes
Drought Tolerance	High
Fertility Requirement	Low
Fire Tolerance	Low
Frost Free Days, Minimum	130
Hedge Tolerance	Low
Moisture Use	Medium
pH, Minimum	4.5
pH, Maximum	8
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum	145
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum	1200
Precipitation, Minimum	28
Precipitation, Maximum	65
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)	16
Salinity Tolerance	Low
Shade Tolerance	Intolerant
Temperature, Minimum (°F)	-28
Reproduction
Bloom Period	Mid Spring
Commercial Availability	Routinely Available
Fruit/Seed Abundance	Low
Fruit/Seed Period Begin	Summer
Fruit/Seed Period End	Fall
Fruit/Seed Persistence	Yes
Propagated by Bare Root	Yes
Propagated by Bulb	No
Propagated by Container	Yes
Propagated by Corm	No
Propagated by Cuttings	No
Propagated by Seed	Yes
Propagated by Sod	No
Propagated by Sprigs	No
Propagated by Tubers	No
Seed per Pound	325000
Seed Spread Rate	Slow
Seedling Vigor	Low
Small Grain	No
Vegetative Spread Rate	None
Suitability/Use
Berry/Nut/Seed Product	No
Christmas Tree Product	No
Fodder Product	No
Fuelwood Product	High
Lumber Product	No
Naval Store Product	No
Nursery Stock Product	Yes
Palatable Browse Animal	Low
Palatable Graze Animal	Low
Palatable Human	No
Post Product	No
Protein Potential	Low
Pulpwood Product	Yes
Veneer Product	No

 

Kingdom  Plantae -- Plants

Subkingdom  Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants

Superdivision  Spermatophyta -- Seed plants

Division  Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants

Class  Magnoliopsida -- Dicotyledons

Subclass  Hamamelididae

Order  Fagales

Family  Betulaceae -- Birch family

Genus  Alnus P. Mill. -- alder P

Species  Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. -- European alder P

 

Caution: This plant could become invasive.

 

Alternate Names

Alnus alnus (L.) Britt.

 

Uses

European black alder is a rapidly growing tree that is useful for planting on drastically disturbed and acid sites such as coal strip-mines.  It is capable of nitrogen fixation though it is not a legume, so it is a soil improving species.  Black alder is also an excellent choice for internal orchard windbreaks.  It can be sheared to very narrow widths of 3-4 feet thick, and produces sufficient density to be effective.  Black alder has been reported as invasive on some soil types.  It should not be planted widely as a landscape or specimen tree.

 

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

 

Weediness

This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, or state natural resource or agriculture department regarding its status and use.  Weed information is also available from the PLANTS Web site at plants.usda.gov.

 

Description

This species was introduced from Europe and should not be confused with native alders.  The leaf, flower, and fruit are similar to the native shrub alders found along the streams of the Northeast.  Black alder is a tree that can grow 60-70 feet tall. The leaf is smooth, 3-5 inches long, with a serrated margin.  Small, winged seed is produced in little woody cone-like fruits.  The bark is dark brown, with prominent warty strips.

 

Adaptation and Distribution

Black alder will grow on a wide variety of soils, from well drained to somewhat poorly drained with light to moderate textures.  It does not do well on droughty or wet sites. The species is hardy to the south shore of Lake Ontario, and to northeast Kansas but may not be reliable in USDA zone 4 or colder.

 

For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Website.

 

Establishment

Planting 1-0 nursery bare-root stock is preferred.  Older

plants are usually too large for easy planting. Take care to properly place the root system in the planting hole or trench.  Black alder will respond to phosphorus fertilizer, particularly when planted in acid soils. Plant dormant stock early in the spring as possible.  Containerized plants can be planted in early summer as well.  There are 321,000 seeds per pound.

Black alder should be planted in mixtures with other species for critical area treatment.  Spacings of 6x6 to 10x10 work well. Under-seeding with a cool season grass mixture is recommended.

 

Management

All trees and shrubs respond very strongly to effective control of weeds and sod.  Mechanical or chemical controls are acceptable as long as they are used according to the label.  Failure to control sod will result in growth reduced by 50% or more.

 

Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

None have been released in the US. A few nurseries produce this tree to meet the needs of orchard and mine revegetation interests.

 

Control

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely.  Always read label and safety instructions for each control method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to provide specific information.  USDA, NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and control methods named, and other products may be equally effective.

 

Prepared By & Species Coordinator:

USDA NRCS Northeast Plant Materials Program

 

Edited: 31Jan2002 JLK; 30may06jsp

 

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS Web site<https://plants.usda.gov> or the Plant Materials Program Web site <https://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov>

 

 

 

Attribution:  U.S. Department of Agriculture