Description
Alnus cordata
Hardy deciduous nitrogen-fixing tree. Extremely drought hardy and often used for windbreaks around orchards as its roots go down more than across so do not interfere with the fruit tree roots. Excellent fast-growing pioneer species, growing well even in very windy sites and in most soil types including heavy clay. They grow particularly well on south facing banks, and can be used to repair soil that has been disturbed, for example after clear felling, fires, and mudslides. Alders can also be used as a canopy tree in a food forest situation with the lower branches pruned to allow light in to lower levels, or as an early support species in a syntropic system, which are later cut and perhaps inoculated with mushroom spores. The heavy leaf fall in autumn, as well as the nitrogen fixation through the roots, will greatly enrich the soil.
Alders have both male and female flowers (catkins) in early spring. The attractive male catkins are long and turn yellow with pollen; the female catkins are much shorter and, following wind pollination, form cones in autumn. Alder catkins are high in protein and can be used as a survival food. Alder species have also been used medicinally across the world.
Height to 25m, spread to 8m.
Certified Organic Plant.
