Native Plant Database

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Color: Dark Green
Fruit Color: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: CT , IL , IN , IA , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , NH , NJ , NY , ND , OH , PA , RI , VT , VA , WV , WI
Canada: NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC
Native Distribution: Widespread across Canada from Yukon and British Columbia to Newfoundland, south to West Virginia, west to NE. Iowa, and north to NE. North Dakota; almost to northern limit of trees; in south to 2600 (792 m).
Native Habitat: Wet soil along streams and lakes, and in swamps.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N), SPM(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Conditions Comments: Nitrogen fixing using root nodules

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Planted as an ornamental at water edges.
Use Wildlife: Alder thickets provide cover for wildlife, browse for deer and moose.
Use Medicinal: Bark was boiled to make medicinal teas for treating rheumatism. It was also applied to wounds as a poultice to reducing bleeding and swelling.
Use Other: Inuit people and settlers extracted a dark dye from the bark for tanning and staining hides.
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Green Comma butterfly

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Alnus incana ssp. rugosa is a larval host and/or nectar source for:

Green Comma (Polygonia faunus) Larval Host Learn more at BAMONA

PlantWise: Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants

Alnus incana ssp. rugosa (Speckled alder) is a PlantWise native alternative for:

   Alnus glutinosa (European alder)

Bibliography

A Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
A Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
* Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Additional resources

USDA: Find Alnus incana ssp. rugosa in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Alnus incana ssp. rugosa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Alnus incana ssp. rugosa