| Scientific Name: | Alnus rubra |
| Common Name: | red alder |
| Family Name: | Betulaceae |
| Origin: | B.C. west of Cascades, U.S. - northwest, U.S. - southwest |
| Hardiness Zone: | Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C) |
| Plant Type: | Tree - deciduous |
| Mature Size: | 22 - 30m x 7 - 10m (height x width) |
| Habit: | Stiffly upright |
| Form: | Oval - vertical |
| Texture: | Medium |
| Landscape Uses: | Erosion control, Native planting, Tall background, Wetland - bogs, Woodland margin |
| Exposure: | Full sun |
| Soil or Media: | Acidic, Humus rich, Well-drained |
| Leaves: | Simple, Alternate, Soft flexible, Heavily veined, Pinnate venation, Glabrous, Lustrous, Elliptic, Ovate, Double serrate |
| Flowers: | Catkin (ament), Yellow, Mar-Apr-Aug |
| Fruit: | Samara, Brown, Aug-Sep-Oct, (Persistent) |
| Key ID Features: | |
| Leaves alternate, ovate-elliptic, 7-13cm long x 5-8cm wide, 8-15 major veins on each side of midrib about parallel; margins double serrate and rolled under; poor fall colour (leaves often fall off green); male catkins 8-15cm long, hanging in small clusters at stem tips; female catkins woody, barrel shaped 1.2-2.4cm long x 1-1.3cm wide, arise at various angles from twigs. Winter ID: new twigs three sided, becoming rounded; buds stalked, oblong, 10-14mm long, red; leaf scars raised, half-round to triangular with 3 bundle scars; persistant woody cone catkins and/ or immature male or female catkins. | |