Speckled Alder (Bundle of 25)

$40.00

Description

Size: 18-24" / Age: 1-0 / Growth Rate: 2 feet or more per year. The Speckled Alder (Alnus incana subspecies rugosa) is a medium-sized deciduous shrub or small tree native to North America, often found in wetland areas, along stream banks, and in moist forests. It typically grows 10-25 feet tall and has a multi-stemmed, bushy growth habit. The bark is smooth and grayish-brown, marked with prominent white or pale lenticels (small, raised spots), which give the plant its "speckled" appearance. In early spring, speckled alder produces long, drooping catkins: the male catkins are slender and yellowish-brown, while the female catkins are shorter and reddish, maturing into small, woody cone-like structures that hold seeds. These "cones" remain on the branches through the winter, providing food for birds and small mammals. Speckled alder has the unique ability to fix nitrogen in the soil due to a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its root nodules, making it valuable for soil enrichment and erosion control. It thrives in full to partial sunlight and wet to moderately dry soils, making it an ideal plant for naturalized wetland areas, riparian buffers, and habitat restoration projects.