Alnus jorullensis
An almost evergreen tree of a graceful form, to 25m. It keeps its leaves all winter until spring, then drops them and replaces with new ones, very quickly. The leaves are a strong green with widely-spaced teeth and an over-all slender shape. Male catkins are cream in spring and female woody 'cones' form in the autumn. It can be trimmed to a hedge including pleaching with a clear trunk
Size
Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metresTime to ultimate height
20–50 yearsUltimate spread
Wider than 8 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Poorly–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Cream | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green | Brown | ||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Betulaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen or Semi evergreen
- Habit
- Columnar upright, Spreading branched
- Genus
Alnus are vigorous deciduous trees and large shrubs with rounded leaves and often conspicuous catkins in winter
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
It is a nitrogen-fixer so can grow on poor soil. Suited to river banks on permanently damp soil in good light. For more information see tree cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by hardwood cuttings or seed. For more advice see our information on how to propagate from seed (tree/shrub
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Architectural
- Banks and slopes
- Hedging and screens
Pruning
Pruning group 1 or can be pruned to a hedge
Pests
May be susceptible to alder leaf beetle, alder sucker and leaf-mining sawflies
Diseases
May be susceptible to phytophthora root rot and honey fungus
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.