Japanese alder is an East Asian tree you may encounter in U.S. tree collections and a few gardens. Long clusters of flowers hang from its branches in spring, while its small, woody, cone-like fruits stand upright.
Appearance
- Growth form
- This tree can reach about 80 ft (25 m) in its native range.
- Leaves
- The leaves are long and narrow, with pointed tips and small teeth along the edges.
- Flowers
- Long pollen hang from the branches, while the shorter seed-bearing catkins stand upright.
- Fruit
- The upright seed clusters become small, woody cones.
Look-alikes
hazel alderAlnus serrulata
Hazel alder is usually a shrub with broader, oval leaves. Japanese alder grows taller and has longer, narrower leaves that taper to a point.
Why they get mixed upBoth have dangling catkins and woody, cone-like fruits.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- tree collections
- moist garden sites
- Range
- It is native to East Asia. In the United States it is an uncommon cultivated tree; collections include Ohio and Oregon.
- Preferred conditions
- It tolerates wet soil and brief flooding. It is hardy to .
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction