Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database

Kingdom Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

Subclass Hamamelididae

Order Fagales

Family Betulaceae – Birch family

Genus Alnus Mill. – alder

Species Alnus rhombifolia Nutt. – white alder

This attractive native alder grows rapidly to 50’ and often forms clumps.

It is similar to Red Alder but grows inland, rather than along the coast.

In the wild it is found from BC to California, in USDA zones 6-10. It has smooth gray bark that only occasionally becomes rough, reminiscent of its cousin the birch.

In spring, the male catkins release their store of pollen to the female flowers, or cones, which persist until the following autumn when they finally disintegrate.

White Alder is a riparian species that will grow in moist soils and even in a minimal amount of standing water, making it an invaluable species for wetland restoration projects. This species will tolerate wind and heat, but not drought.