Manchurian Alder (Alnus hirsuta) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Manchurian alder is a deciduous tree native to northeastern Asia. Broad, nearly round leaves, gray bark, and small, cone-like fruit clusters are useful identification clues.

Appearance

Growth form: A deciduous tree; the cultivated ‘Harbin’ selection reaches about 30 ft (9 m) at maturity.
Leaves: The leaves are broad, often nearly round, with coarse teeth and shallow lobes.
Flowering time: On a university campus in North Dakota, the ‘Harbin’ selection produces in March.
Fruit: The ‘Harbin’ selection has small woody fruit clusters that develop in October–November in North Dakota.

Look-alikes

gray alderAlnus incana

Manchurian alder usually has rounder, broader leaves with coarser teeth and deeper lobes. Gray alder often has narrower leaves with finer, more even teeth; a single leaf photo may still be inconclusive.

Why they get mixed upThey are close relatives with similar gray bark and cone-like fruit clusters.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: Cultivated landscapes in North Dakota
Range: It is native to northeastern Asia rather than the United States. The ‘Harbin’ selection is planted on a university campus in North Dakota.
Flowering: Flowers Mar
Flowers Mar · Fruit Oct–Nov

Growing it

Care: The ‘Harbin’ selection, sold as Prairie Horizon, is recommended for difficult sites in North Dakota and is hardy in zones 3–7.

Name and classification

Varieties and forms: Prairie Horizon is the named ‘Harbin’ cultivated selection. It is a garden form of this species, not a separate wild species.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

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