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White Alder
Scientific Name:
Alnus rhombifolia
Type:
Tree
Habitat:
Riparian woodlands, usually with other riparian trees
Range:
Pacific Coast of North America and nearby western mountain ranges
Status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)
This species is
NATIVE
to the Truckee Meadows.
Identification:
White alders are a species of birch tree that generally grow to between 15 and 80 feet in height. Their pale gray bark becomes scaly with age. White alders have alternating leaves that are 1.5 to 4 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide, and have finely serrated edges. Their flowers grow in long clusters called “catkins”.
Fast Facts:
White alders are winter deciduous trees that grow at a rate of around 36 inches per year and can live to be 150 years old!
White alders are commonly found growing along permanent streams and rivers - keep an eye out when you’re near the Truckee River for these!
These trees are commonly favored as “shade trees” since their wide canopies provide cool shade for those who find themselves nearby. Aquatic animals and land animals are both known to seek refuge under white alders, while pileated woodpeckers and red-breasted nuthatches are known to build nests in their branches.
Sources:
U.S. Forest Service, Alnus rhombifolia, 2014, https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/alnrho/all.html#Germination
Oregon State University, Alnus rhombifolia, 2021, https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/alnus-rhombifolia
California Native Plant Society, White Alder, 2021, https://calscape.org/Alnus-rhombifolia-(White-Alder)
IUCN Red List, White Alder, 2014, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/194648/2355642
Image: Schmiebel, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alnus_rhombifolia_(White_Alder)_Redwood_Grove_2011-06-25.jpg, license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en, scrapped from original.
Contributor(s):
Bridget Mulkerin (research & content)
Alex Shahbazi (edits & page design)