Alder, Sitka - Alnus viridis

A multiple stemmed shrub up to 3 m (10 feet) tall; bark is thin, smooth, reddish brown aging to grayish-green; stems are somewhat three-sided with triangular pith; roots nitrogen fixing; leaves alternate, deciduous, shiny green, double serrate with fine sharp teeth and sticky when young; flowers catkins; fruit winged nutlet in semi-woody small cone. Habitat is moist montane woods and streambanks at mid to lower elevations on coarse textured soils. Collect seed in the fall from trees at least 4 to 7 years of age; fall collected and sown seed readily germinates; stored seed requires a cold stratification period of 1 to 3 months at 3°C (37°F); fungicide powders prevent molding but may reduce germination percentage. Transplant seedlings at one to two years of age into a well-drained media with frequent watering and ample sunlight.

Greenhouse asexual propagation and Field propagation of dormant unrooted hardwood cuttings is generally not successful.

< Back to Species Descriptions and Propagation Techniques

Last Modified: 07/05/2007