red alder
Alnus rubra
USDA zones5 to 10
SunHandles full sun to full shade
WaterHandles moderate to moist soil
Size40 to 50 feet tall20 to 30 feet wide
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn, winter
- Bloom color
- Red , green , brown
- Foliage color
- Dark green above.
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Red alder (Alnus rubra) is a tree for low maintenance planting and hedges. It is hardy to USDA zone 5, or down to -20°F (-29°C). This plant likes full sun to full shade and average to moist soil of most types. Its roots hold nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which enrich the soil for nearby plants. Butterflies, bees, and birds visit it. Deer rarely make it their first choice.
Pairs well with California sycamore, Yerba mansa, California wild rose, and Tree lupine.
Native range
AK, CA, ID, MT, and 2 more places. See all 6
AK, CA, ID, MT, OR, and WA; BC.