White Alder
Alnus rhombifolia
White alder is a fast riparian tree of western foothill streams, marking permanent water with its pale bark and glossy leaves. A nitrogen-fixing pioneer that shades and cools trout streams. Like other alders, the inner bark has flavored soups or bread flour — but it must be dried first, since it's mildly emetic when fresh.
- Family
- Betulaceae
- Type
- tree
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 65–65 ft
- Spacing
- 20–40 ft apart
- Light
- part shade
- Soil moisture
- moist, wet
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral
- Bloom
- September, October, November
- Bloom colors
- green
- Wildlife value
- mammals, songbirds, larval host
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~255 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- rain garden
- Native states
- CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA