Phenology: Bloom Period: February to April. Names: Red Alder is sometimes called Oregon Alder. In the Landscape: Although many consider Red Alder a “weed” tree because it will often invade landscapes, this tree is the first choice for ecological restoration. The tree likes sun to half-shade at the location and the soil should be sandy to loamy. Red Alder leaves are slightly rolled under at the margins. Distribution of Red Alder from USGS ( “Atlas of United States Trees” by Elbert L. Little, Jr. ). Dishes, spoons, platters, masks and many other items were made from Red Alder wood. WTU Herbarium Image Collection, Plants of Washington, Burke Museum, E-Flora BC, Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia, USDA Forest Service-Fire Effects Information System, Virginia Tech ID Fact Sheet + Landowner Fact Sheet, Native Plants Network, Propagation Protocol Database, Native American Ethnobotany, University of Michigan, Dearborn. Use by people: The wood of Red Alder was second only to Cedars in its use for woodworking by natives. The bark of Red Alder was also valued for its medicinal qualities; it is known to have antibiotic properties and contains salicin, which is used to make aspirin. The bark of Red Alder is smooth, light gray, but turns white with age. Diagnostic Characters: Red Alder has thin, gray bark often with patches of white lichens. overview leaves | overview blossomsoverview fruit | overview trunkoverview winter | overview trees, back to trees by common name | trees by botanical name | conifers by common name | conifers by botanical name | German: baumportal.de, © Jost Benning | Imprint | jowaca digital solutions. Alder wood is considered the best wood for smoking salmon. It is used for furniture, cabinetry, small manufactured items, paper and paper products. The cones become woody , first they are green and later dark brown to black. The branches are red-brown, the buds are reddish brown, narrow and pointed. “Volunteers” weeded out of other areas can be easily potted up or transplanted to more appropriate locations. Relationships: There are about eight alder species that reach tree size in the United States and Canada, about 20 or 30 species worldwide. Red alder is the largest species of alder in North America and one of the largest in the world, reaching heights of 20 to 30 m (66 to 98 ft). The Red Alder is botanically called Alnus rubra. It is relatively short-lived and rarely lives past 100 years. Because of the whitish appearance of the bark, it is often confused with Paper Birch. Wind dissemination is very effective for natural regeneration. The official tallest red alder (1979) stands 32 m (105 ft) tall in Clatsop County, Oregon (US). Male catkins and are slender and hang in a pendent manner. Rubra means red– referring to the red dye made from its bark and the color of the wood when cut. The lateral buds stick out. Distribution: Red Alder is found from southeast Alaska to southern California, with some isolated communities in northern Idaho. Red Alder can form attractive groves in young forests, especially along rivers and streams. Female strobiles with immature male strobiles in the background.. Propagation: It is extremely easy to propagate by seed; no treatment is necessary, only sunlight is required. The name derives from the bright rusty red color that develops in bruised or scraped bark. It produces small brown cone-like strobiles less than an inch (2cm) long that remain on the tree through the winter. Red Alder The Birch Family–Betulaceae. The cone-like strobiles shed large amounts of small winged nutlets September to December. The leaf margin is serrated and the leaf arrangement is alternate. It quickly colonizes recently cleared land. Red alder trees provide valuable nesting for birds and thermal cover for black-tailed deer and other wildlife. The margins of the leaves are coarsely toothed and roll under. Beavers eat the bark and use the stems for building dams and lodges. Red Alder is a host to nitrogen-fixing bacteria that form nodules on tree roots. Because of the whitish appearance of the bark, it is often confused with Paper Birch. red alder (Alnus rubra) (click on each photo to enlarge image) Leaves: Simple, alternate, and deciduous; egg-shaped; 3"-6" long; margins doubly serrated and tightly rolled under; veins very straight. A red or orange dye was made from the bark to color red cedar bark and to make fishnets invisible to fish. Because of this association, the introduction of Red Alder to disturbed sites can quickly improve the fertility of soils, making the site more amenable to colonization by longer-living conifers. Wetland designation: FAC, Facultative, it is equally likely to occur in wetlands or non-wetlands. Its most distinguishing feature is its wavy, toothed leaves with revolute margins (edges that are slightly rolled under). Livestock: Horses, cattle, sheep and goats browse on the leaves, twigs and buds of young alder trees. The male flowers (catkins) are strikingly long, the female flowers are often upright. Use by wildlife: Finches eat the seeds of Red Alder. Female catkins are short and thick, and are borne at the ends of branchlets. The hard wood burns hot and relatively long, making it an excellent choice for firewood. Western Maidenhair Fern, Adiantum aleuticum. White Alder, Alnus rhombifolia, is similar to Red Alder but is smaller; it is mostly an inland species is found in our range in northern Oregon. Long catkins appear in spring, before the leaves, producing copious amounts of pollen. The leaves are ovate, 7 to 15 centimetres (2.8 to 5.9 in) long, with bluntly serrated edges and a distinct point at the end… Red Alder leaves are slightly rolled under at the margins. This alder is widespread and based in Alaska, North America and Western Canada. Red Alder is the most important hardwood in the Pacific Northwest. The bark is mottled, ashy-gray and smooth, often colonized by white lichen and moss. Stands of Red Alder are favorable habitat for deer, especially on hot days in summer and early fall. © Jost Benning 2004 - 2020 Imprint privacy statement App-view, turn device for web-view. The leaves are ovate, pointed, and is about 15 cm (5.9 in) long. Alder pollen is a major allergen.