Alnus cordata
ALL-nus kor-DAH-tah

Italian Alder, European Alder
Betulaceae (Birch family)
Origin: Italy, Corsica, 1920

Species characteristics:
Form - Deciduous. Vertical in youth, spreading with age. Grows to a height of 40' with a 30' spread and pyramidal in habit.

Trunk - The balk is a gray green or greenish brown that changes to a soft gray brown with age. Many lenticels are visible onthe branches.

Foliage - Heart shaped simple 4" leaves are borne alternately. Tops are a glossy rich green. Paler undersides have distinctive rusty hair along the mid-rib.

Flowers/fruit - The male flowers are 3 - 5" catkins while the female are distinctly oval 1 -1 1/4" strobiles or cones, borne before the leaves appear. The fruit is a 1" nutlet borne in the persistent strobiles which remain on the tree in winter.

Significant pest problems are Armillaria root rot, aphids, and flatheaded borers.

Site suitability:
Sunset zones: 8, 9 and 14 - 24.

Clearances - Suitable for 8 - 12' parkways or 10 - 20' medians.

Good for streetsides, medians, parks and lawns.

Culture considerations:
Thrives in poor and dry soil and tolerant of acid or slightly alkaline soils. Has invasive roots.