General Culture:

Best grown in medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Also tolerates dry, infertile soils. Best in cool climates. Does not perform well south of USDA Zone 7.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Japanese alder is a conical to pyramidal deciduous tree that is native to temperate forests, streambanks, swamps and roadsides in northeastern Asia and Japan. It typically grows to 40-60' (less frequently to 80') tall. Narrow, acuminate, serrulate, ovate to elliptic, dark green leaves (to 5" long) are wedge-shaped at the base and light green underneath. No appreciable fall color. Flowers are monoecious. Long, pendant, yellow-brown male catkins appear in clusters. Short erect female catkins are followed by ellipsoidal fruiting cones (3/4" to 1 inch long) composed of winged seeds.