Plant Type

Tree, Shrub

 

Height Range

12-25'

 

Flower Color

n/a

 

Flower Season

n/a

 

Leaf Color

Green, Yellow

 

Bark Color

Brown, Grey

 

Fruit Color

Brown

 

Fruit Season

Persistent

Sun

Full, Half, Shade

 

Water

High

 

Growth Rate

Fast

 

Soil Type

Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Rich, Well-drained, Moist

 

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

Invasive

Design Styles

Meadow, Water Garden, Wetlands, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Fall Color, Multi-trunk Tree

 

Seasonal Interest

Winter, Fall

 

Location Uses

Background, Shrub Border, Park

 

Special Uses

Erosion Control, Screen, Mass Planting, Naturalizing

 

Attracts Wildlife

Birds, Butterflies

The Mountain Alder is a multistemmed large shrub or small tree, growing 15 to 20 feet tall and wide. The dull dark green leaves are thin and oval with serrated margins. Bark is grayish-brown, thin, and smooth, becoming reddish-gray and scaly with age. Catkins are produced during the growing season prior to blooming, and expand before the leaves emerge in the spring. Cone-like fruits enclose a very small winged seed that matures in late summer and persist through winter.

Grows best in course to medium, nutrient rich, moist soils and sunny to lightly shaded areas. Mountain alder can tolerate floods but not drought. It is able to survive extremely cold winters. The seeds, buds, and catkins are important winter food for various birds, including chickadees and goldfinches.