Consulta Plantas

Care of the tree Alnus glutinosa or Common alder

The genus Alnus, family Betulaceae, comprises 30 species of trees and shrubs distributed throughout the planet. Some species are: Alnus glutinosa, Alnus rugosa, Alnus rubra, Alnus cordata, Alnus incana.

Common names: Common alder, Alder, Black alder, European alder. This species is native to Europe, southwest Asia and northern Africa.

It is an elegant deciduous tree that reaches 25 meters (82 feet) in height; it can live more than 100 years. The leaves can be oval, rounded or heart-shaped. It haves male flowers (hanging catkins 10 cm/3.9" long) and female flowers (egg-shaped catkins). Although it produces cone-shaped fruits, they are not coniferous.

Common alder is used on the banks of lakes or rivers and in gardens as isolated specimens.

Alnus glutinosa needs exposure to full sun or semi-shade, warm temperatures and moist soil.

Black alder grows in all kinds of soils, better not calcareous. It improves the soil because its roots retain nitrogen.

The irrigations will be abundant because it requires a high humidity on land; it does not tolerate drought.

Common alder does not need pruning or fertilization.

It is a plant that is quite resistant to common pests and diseases.

European alder can be propagated by woody cuttings once the danger of frost has passed and from seeds sown in spring.

Images of the tree Alnus glutinosa or Common alder