Plant Names
Alnus incana
Grey Alder
Aulne blanc
Synonyms
gray alder
hoary alder
aulne gris
Plant Characteristics
Bloom Colour: Green
Bloom Period: Apr - May
Max Height: 40.0 feet
Max Width: 15.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolerates medium soil condition
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan:
Perennial
plants that will that come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
Spreads by rhizome
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Spreads by rhizome
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
Suitable for wetland garden
Suitable for wetland garden
Ecological Benefits:
Supports pollinators
Fixes nitrogen in the soil
Supports pollinators
Fixes nitrogen in the soil
Tolerates:
Special Features and Considerations:
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
We are not accepting seeds for this plant at the moment.
Plant Location
Native to Ottawa region: Yes
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Canadensis
Thrives in Ecozones
- Taiga Plains
- Atlantic Maritime
- Taiga Shield
- Boreal Plains
- Montane Cordillera
- Hudson Plains
- Boreal Shield
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Alnus incana
- Lomographa semiclarata (Bluish Spring)
- Melanchra adjuncta (Hitched Arches)
- Orgyia leucostigma (marked Tussock)
- Sphinx poecila (Poecila Sphinx)
Specialized Bees Supported by Alnus incana
No bee data available for this plant.
Complementary Plants
- No complementary plants found.
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Rhamnus cathartica (Common Buckthorn)
- Rhamnus frangula (Glossy Buckthorn)
Sowing Information
Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Sow just below surface
- Sow anytime
- Stratification duration: 0 days
- Self-seeding
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: September
- Harvesting indicator:
- Pods are released from plant
- Harvesting:
- Use hand to detach from main stem
- Seed viability test:
- No test needed before donating
- Packaging measure: Six (6) seeds (eyeball)
- Seed storage:
- Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
- Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
- Cultivar: Yes, do not donate unless you know source, and there are no known cultivars in your garden or at proximity
- Remove non-seed material
- No harvesting video available at this time.
Toxicity Notes
Not known to be toxic to mammals if ingested.