Botanical Name:

Alnus glutinosa

Common Name:

European alder, common alder, black alder

Family Name:

Betulaceae - birch family

General Description:

Alnus glutinosa is an intermediate size tree that can be grown single stem or clump. It has been a popular plant in the landscape due to its size, shape, winter texture and ability to grow in diverse landscape settings. European black alder is especially useful for wet sites and poor infertile sites as it has the ability to fix nitrogen in nodules on its root system. However, it is a non-native tree that has escaped cultivation and can now be found along rivers and other natural habitats in the Chicago area. According to The Morton Arboretum, this plant is invasive and should not be planted.

Zone:

3-7

Resources Consulted:

"Black alder." Trees & Plants. Morton Arboretum, 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.

Dirr, Michael A. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses. Champaign: Stipes, 2009. Print.

"The PLANTS Database." USDA, NRCS. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA, 2014. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.

Swink, Floyd, and Gerould Wilhelm. Plants of the Chicago Region. Indianapolis: Indiana Academy of Science, 1994. Print.

Creator:

Julia Fitzpatrick-Cooper, Professor, College of DuPage

Creation Date:

2014

Keywords/Tags:

Alnus glutinosa, European alder, black alder, deciduous, tree

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