Plant Details

Alnus rubra

Red alder

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Common names

25 names · 23 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (22)
Dutch
  • Rode els
French
  • Aulne rouge[1]
Afrikaans
  • amerikaanse rooiels[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 红桤木[1]
  • 美国赤杨[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • olše oregonská[1]
Danish
Downriver Halkomelem
  • kʷəxʷsi:ɬp[1]
Estonian
  • punane lepp[1]
Finnish
  • Punaleppä[1]
German
Hungarian
  • Vörös éger[1]
Norwegian
Nuuchahnulth
Polish
  • olsza czerwona[1]
Russian
  • Ольха красная[1]
Saanich
  • SḰOṈEȽĆ[1]
Slovak
  • jelša červená[1]
Spanish
  • Aliso rojo[1]
Squamish
  • kwelúl̓ay[1]
Swedish
Upriver Halkomelem
  • kwulala’ulhp[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Alnus rubra — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Red Alder — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • Ольха красная — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • Aliso rojo — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • Punaleppä — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • Vörös éger — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • Aulne rouge — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • Rødor — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • punane lepp — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • olše oregonská — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • 红桤木 — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • 美国赤杨 — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • 紅榿木 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • rödal — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • oregonel — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • olsza czerwona — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • jelša červená — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • kwelúl̓ay — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • kʷəxʷsi:ɬp — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • SḰOṈEȽĆ — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • amerikaanse rooiels — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • qaqmapt — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • kwulala’ulhp — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • Rot-Erle — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.
  • Oregon-Erle — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 56034; Alnus rubra.

General information

Scientific name: Alnus rubra
Accepted name (Kew): Alnus rubra Bong. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Betulaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Alnus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Red alder
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 20.12–29.87 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 10.67–15.24 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [2]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [2]
Growth habit: Conical, Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [2]
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Inner bark, Sap
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer, Pioneer species, Charcoal, Dye, Hedge, Windbreak, Wood

Description

This plant is a pioneer and fixes nitrogen. The catkins can be eaten raw or cooked; they are high in protein but have a bitter taste. The bark must be boiled and dried to avoid the emetic effect. Often, the bark is dried and ground into powder that can be used as a thickening agent in soups or mixed with grain for bread. The sap of this plant is harvested raw in late winter on a warm, sunny day followed by a freezing cold night for the best flow. It has a sweet taste and was often used in the past to sweeten other foods. No specific details are provided about the buds, so it is unclear whether they refer to flower buds or leaf buds.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Crown

Crown shape: Broad pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 949920; name ID 6245; Alnus Mill.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 950415; name ID 6584; Alnus rubra Bong..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Alnus rubra — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 66 ft. 0 in. - 98 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 35 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .