Plant Data
Sheet
Species
(common name, Latin name)
Mountain
Alder, Alnus Incana
Range
From central
Climate,
elevation
Near sea level to 3000 m.
Habitat
preferences
typically found near streams, rivers, or springs on moist mountain slopes on poorly developed soils of cobbles, gravels, or sands which remain moist year round due to high water tables
Plant
strategy type/successional stage (stress-tolerator, competitor,
weedy/colonizer, seral, late successional)
Thinleaf alder is an early successional plant. It is a nitrogen fixer and has a high flood tolerance and thus improves soil fertility and stabilizes streambanks.
Associated
species
Black
cottonwood, Maple, and
May be collected as: (seed, layered, divisions, etc.)
Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe and only just covered.
Cuttings of mature wood can be taken as soon as the leaves
fall in autumn, outdoors in sandy soil.
Seed
germination (needs dormancy breaking?)
Requires cold stratification
Seed
life (can be stored, short shelf-life, long shelf-life)
Seeds have a short shelf-life.
Propagation
recommendations (plant seeds, vegetative parts, cuttings, etc.) Spring
sown seed should germinate successfully so long as it is not covered. The seed
should germinate in the spring as the weather warms up. When large enough to
handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots. The seedlings can either be planted out
into their permanent positions in the autumn/winter, or they can be allowed to
grow on in the seed bed for a further season before planting them
Soil or medium requirements (inoculum necessary?)
Poorly developed soils of cobbles, gravels, or sands which remain moist year round
Installation
form (form, potential for successful outcomes, cost)
May be planted as seed, container, or bare root.
Recommended
planting density
300-1200
per acre.
Care
requirements after installed (water weekly, water once etc.)
Water daily for the first year.
Normal
rate of growth or spread; lifespan
Rapid growth, thicket forming with short lifespan.
Sources
cited
Propagation of Pacific Northwest Native Plants by Rose, Robin.; Chachulski, Caryn E. C.; Haase, Diane L., Corvallis Oregon State University Press, 1998.
Gardenbed.com, http://gardenbed.com/source/17/1654_gen.asp
Plants Database, http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi
Data
compiled by (student name and date)
Doug Schmitt