Alnus glutinosa SEEDS

Alnus glutinosa seeds grow into the common alder or black alder the quintessential European riparian tree, native to the temperate biome from Ireland and western Europe east through Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, eastern Europe and the Caucasus to western Siberia and Iran. The most widely distributed and ecologically important alder in Europe, it is the defining species of alder carr, wet woodland and riverside habitats, growing with its roots regularly in standing or flowing water. The epithet glutinosa means ‘sticky’ or ‘glutinous’, referring to the sticky young leaves and shoots. Male catkins open in February-March before any other tree leaves; woody cone-like female strobiles persist through winter. Nitrogen-fixing; important for soil enrichment and riparian ecosystem health. Family Betulaceae.

Full sun to partial shade; thrives in waterlogged, flooded and very wet soils; excellent for riverbank stabilisation, wetland planting and alder carr creation.

• Glutinous (sticky) young leaves and shoots ‘glutinosa’ = sticky
• Male catkins open Feb-March; woody cone-like strobiles persist through winter
• Europe to W. Siberia and Iran temperate biome; defining riparian and wetland tree
• Nitrogen-fixing; critical for riparian soil enrichment and wetland ecosystem health
• Full sun to partial shade; waterlogged and flooded soils; riverbank stabilisation

Alnus glutinosa is the great European wetland tree the common alder’s extraordinary tolerance of waterlogged soils, early-season catkins, nitrogen-fixing roots and vital role in riparian ecosystems make it one of the most ecologically important native trees of the European and western Asian landscape.

IMPORTANT: Pictures show the adult plant, which is not for sale. The offer is only for seeds.