Red Alder
ExploreTrees
Red Alder
Alnus rubra
Red Alder is a special tree with red-brown bark and bright green leaves! It likes to grow near water.
Habitat: Riverbanks and forests
Appearance
The Red Alder is a medium-to-large tree with smooth, ash-gray bark when young, maturing to scaly. Its oval, finely serrated leaves are dark green above and paler, sometimes rusty below. Small, dark brown, cone-like fruits persist through winter, giving it a distinctive look.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFagalesFamilyBetulaceaeGenusAlnus
Category
TreesRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Its small, woody cones stay on the tree all winter, looking like tiny ornaments!
Native Americans used Red Alder bark to make beautiful reddish dyes for baskets and nets!
Red Alder is super important for salmon, shading streams and providing leaf nutrients!
When Red Alder wood is cut, it quickly changes color from white to reddish-orange!
Special abilities
Ability
Nitrogen Power-Up
Red Alder can partner with tiny soil bacteria to create its own fertilizer, helping it grow fast in poor soils.
Ability
Soil Super-Booster
Red Alder enriches the soil by adding nitrogen, which helps other plants thrive and makes the forest healthier.
Ability
Quick Colonizer
Red Alder can quickly grow in disturbed areas like clearcuts or landslides, starting the recovery process for new forests.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 20-40 m
- Canopy Spread
- 8-15 m
- Edible
- No
- Trunk Diameter
- 30-80 cm
- Lifespan
- 60-100 years
- Fruit Type
- Cone-like strobile
- Growth Rate
- Fast
- Leaf Type
- Deciduous
Ecological connections
symbiotic with
Frankia bacteria
Frankia alni
fixes nitrogen in roots
shelters
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
leaves and shade cool streams
eats
North American Beaver
Castor canadensis
eats bark and twigs
eats
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
browses on young twigs and leaves
shelters
Hairy Woodpecker
Picoides villosus
nests in cavities in trunks
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Nitrogen Fixing
Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants.
Broadleaf Tree
Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
Rapid Growing
Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
Timber
Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
Pacific AlderWestern Alder
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Red Alder?
20-40 m
How wide does Red Alder spread?
8-15 m
Is Red Alder edible?
No
How big is Red Alder?
30-80 cm
How long does Red Alder live?
60-100 years
Where is Red Alder usually found?
Riverbanks and forests
What kind of fruit does Red Alder produce?
Cone-like strobile
How fast does Red Alder grow?
Fast
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