Digging deeperPlant Library

Other Names:  Thinleaf Alder

Description:

An extremely hardy small tree for difficult wet sites; no particularly striking ornamental features, but generally a neat, clean choice for landscape purposes

Ornamental Features

Mountain Alder has forest green deciduous foliage on a tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. The oval leaves turn yellow in fall.

Landscape Attributes

Mountain Alder is a deciduous tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Mountain Alder is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Shade
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing

Mountain Alder will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 5 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America.