Italian Alder (Alnus cordata)

Pictures

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  Appearance

  The Italian Alder is a medium-sized, slow-growing tree with dark-green, heart-shaped leaves and yellowish catkins. The large cone-like fruits look highly decorative in winter. The tree is extremely adaptable.

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  Leaf upperside

  Shoots appear in mid-May; leathery, shiny dark green heart-shaped leaves, 4-12cm long, 3-8cm wide, leaf stem 2-5 cm long. Persistent, dropping at the end of November.

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  Flowers

  Flowering period III-IV, red female flower, reddish male flower. 5-8cm long catkins. Female catkins are located below the male catkins. Flower before the leaves sprout.

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  Bark

  Green or grey-green bark, smooth. Branches are glossy dark brown, plain brown-red or glossy brown-red. Sticky surface.

Application

Pioneer tree, soil improvement, screening, noise abatement, wind-break, forage for honey-bees, public areas, parks, urban areas, roadside verges

Native regions

Italy

Location parameters

Light: sunny to off-sun, temperature: warm to normal, soil: dry to moist, soil structure: normal to loose, soil depth: shallow to very deep, soil quality: medium to high, pH value: 5.0 to 7.0

Demands

Full sun to slight shade; highly adaptable; moist to moderately dry, all soils; heat-tolerant, slightly frost-tender in early years; tolerates urban climates, highly resistant to wind

Growth

Height of growth: 10m to 15m, spread: 6m to 8m, growth habits: rounded, horizontal, loose, upright, pendent, central leader

Leaves

Shoots appear in mid-May; leathery, shiny dark green heart-shaped leaves, 4-12cm long, 3-8cm wide, leaf stem 2-5 cm long. Persistent, dropping at the end of November.

Flowers

Flowering period III-IV, red female flower, reddish male flower. 5-8cm long catkins. Female catkins are located below the male catkins. Flower before the leaves sprout.

Fruits

Cone-like fruits, 2.5-3cm long, monocarpous, stalked.

Bark

Green or grey-green bark, smooth. Branches are glossy dark brown, plain brown-red or glossy brown-red. Sticky surface.

Roots

Shallow roots, no suckering, nitrogen collector

• Pests and diseases of this tree/shrub