Appearance

Growth form

A deciduous small tree or large shrub, usually under 33 ft (10 m).

Leaves

The pointed, oval leaves are about 2–4 in (5–10 cm) long and have many straight side veins.

Flowers

Slender male catkins appear in spring.

Fruit

Its woody fruit clusters usually stand upright in pairs, though the number varies.

Look-alikes

Drooping alderAlnus pendula

Drooping alder (Alnus pendula) has even more closely spaced side veins and fruit clusters that hang down. Japanese green alder usually has upright fruit clusters, often in pairs.

Why they get mixed up · Both are Japanese alders with narrow, strongly veined leaves.

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• Botanical gardens
• Mountain woods in Japan

Range

It grows wild in Japan. In the United States, it is a cultivated collection tree rather than a native woodland tree.

Connected species

Partners

• Frankia bacteriaFrankia

  These bacteria live in root nodules and make airborne nitrogen available to the tree.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

DDData Deficient·Not enough data yet to assess