Plant Details

Alnus sinuata

Sitka alder

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Alnus sinuata.

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Common names

3 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Sitka alder[1]
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • Chinese els
French
  • Aulne de Sitka
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] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Alnus alnobetula subsp. sinuata (Regel) Raus ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Sitka alder (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 154636; taxon 5FHWK.

General information

Scientific name: Alnus sinuata
Accepted name (Kew): Alnus alnobetula subsp. sinuata View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited taxonomic treatment. Botanical references may use alternative names.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Betulaceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Sitka alder

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Large, Small
Height: 4.00 m
Spread: 3.50 m
Growth rate: Slow
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 2-9
Soil moisture:
Moist, Wet
Soil:
Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Flowers
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer, Pioneer species, Wood

Description

Catkins are edible, both raw and cooked, but they have a bitter taste. They are considered pioneer plants and have the ability to extract nitrogen from the air.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 28/02

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: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: WCVP version 16, wcvp_names.csv: Alnus sinuata (Regel) Rydb., name ID 6617, row 28565; Alnus alnobetula subsp. sinuata (Regel) Raus, name ID 466797, row 394063
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 949920; name ID 6245; Alnus Mill.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Alnus sinuata

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 4465575, ID C2T2: Alnus sinuata (Regel) Rydb. (synonym). Accepted target: Alnus alnobetula subsp. sinuata (Regel) Raus, ID 5FHWK, line 1517297.

    Source checked on .