RED ALDER
alnus rubra

• also known as Western Alder, Oregon Alder
• the name red alder comes from the fact that the inner bark turns orange-red when exposed to air

UNIQUE FEATURES:

• in the forest, the tree develops a slightly tapered trunk with a narrow, rounded crown, in the open it has a broad cone shape with the crown starting near the trunk
• is BC's most important hardwood
• while all other alders are only shrubs, the red alder is a large coastal tree
• puts nitrogen back into the soil
• fast growing but only lives 40 to 60 years

LOCATION:

• entire coast of BC
• needs lots of sunshine
• areas of recent disturbance
• nutrient rich areas including floodplains, marshes and streambanks
• under 500 ft

SIZE:

• medium sized, up to 24 metres in height
• can be shrub-like in poor locations

FRUIT:

• small (2 cm), woody, brown, oval shaped cones (female)
• narrow winged seed

FLOWERS:

• long (10 to 15 cm), drooping, reddish catkins (male)

LEAVES:

• oval shaped, pointed tips, toothed edges
• bright green with a greyish underside
• edges often rolled under

BARK:

• thin, greenish when young
• becoming grey or whitish and slightly ridged with age
• rough on the lower part of the trunk
• when exposed to air, the inner bark turns reddish-orange

WOOD CHARACTERISTICS:

• fine grained

USES:

• modern - furniture, flooring, firewood
• traditional - bark: dying basket material, fish nets, wood, wool, feathers as well as human hair and skin (colours ranged from black and brown to orangey-red; inner bark sometimes used for food; wood: carving bowls, spoons and platters, smoking meat, firewood