Alnus hirsuta: Uses (Ethnobotany)
The tree is used to control erosion, soil improvement, and shade and shelter. Its wood may be used for building furniture or agricultural tools as well as for fuelwood or making charcoal.
Plant Profile: Alnus hirsuta
Names
Manchurian Alder, Siberian Alder
Phonetic Spelling:AL-nus her-SOO-tuh
Genus:Alnus
Species:hirsuta
Family:Betulaceae
The Manchurian Alder, also referred to as the Siberian Alder, belongs to the birch family. This medium-sized, deciduous tree stands upright and is indigenous to regions such as Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Siberia, and the Russian Far East. The genus name, Alnus, translates to Alder in Latin, while the species name, hirsuta, means coarsely hairy. Characterized by its smooth gray bark and dark green leaves, the tree features a low canopy and produces dangling catkins in the spring, prior to leaf emergence. The flowers are unisexual, either male or female, and in the fall, the tree bears brown, cone-like fruits.
The Manchurian Alder is often planted for its ability to enhance soil quality, prevent erosion, and provide shade and shelter. Its wood is utilized in the construction of agricultural tools and furniture, and it can also serve as fuelwood or for charcoal production. Typically, this tree thrives at elevations between 2,500 and 5,000 feet, often found near small rivers, bogs, springs, or wet areas at the base of mountains. Its roots play a crucial role in enriching the soil with nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with specific soil microorganisms.
This species is well-suited to clay and nutrient-poor soils, demonstrating remarkable adaptability from dry conditions to areas with standing water, making it the most drought-resistant of all Alders. It shares a close relationship with Alnus incana, and Alnus x mayrii, a hybrid of Alnus hirsuta and Alnus japonica, is also associated with it. Potential pests that may affect this tree include the Ussuri Oyster Shell Scale, Asian Ambrosia Beetle, and the Black and White Long Horn Beetle, although there are no significant diseases known to impact the Manchurian Alder.
Tags
#deciduous
#fall color
#shade tree
#winter interest
#fall interest
#poor soils tolerant
#dry soils tolerant
#wet soils intolerant
Similar Plants
Alnus hirsuta Feature Summary
Attributes
The tree is used to control erosion, soil improvement, and shade and shelter. Its wood may be used for building furniture or agricultural tools as well as for fuelwood or making charcoal.
Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Siberia, and Russian Far East
Tough adaptable plant. Resistant to diseases, drought, dry or wet soil, and prevents erosion.
Woody
Fruit
The female catkin develops small wood cones measuring 3/4 inches long by 1/2 inch wide. Inside the cones are winged seeds that are released in the fall when they have matured. The cones remain on the tree through the winter months and in the next growing season.
Samara
Brown/Copper
Long-lasting
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Flowers
The Manchurian Alder produces male and female florets on the same tree. The catkins are long, purple in color, and droop below the tree branches. The blooming period occurs in March and April before the leaves emerge. The florets are cross-pollinated by the wind. The female catkins remain on the tree throughout the summer then in the fall, the female catkins release seeds.
Purple/Lavender
Catkin
Spring
Leaves
The tree leaf is glossy green in color, ovate in shape with a rounded base, and has doubly toothed margins. It measures approximately 2.5 inches x 5 inches in length and nearly the same in width. The upper surface is slightly hairy. The underside of the leaf surface is downy and has a reddish-brown color along the midribs and veins. In the fall the leaves turn yellow in color. During the winter the leaves may drop off or just wither on the tree.
Deciduous
Green
Gold/Yellow
Simple
Alternate
Ovate
Doubly Dentate
3-6 inches
Glossy
3-6 inches
Bark
The bark is gray, smooth, and adds interest to the landscape.
Light Gray
Smooth
Stem
The young shoots of the tree are hairy at first. The winter buds are egg-shaped, hairy, and purplish in color. The stem color is gray.
Gray/Silver
Hairy (pubescent)
Hairy
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Deciduous
Multi-stemmed
Erect
Pyramidal
Rapid
Low
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Occasionally Dry
more than 60 feet
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
3a
3b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Shade Garden
Shade Tree
Drought
Wet Soil
Dry Soil
Diseases
Erosion
Woodland
Naturalized Area
Alnus hirsuta Image Gallery
Alnus hirsuta Attributes
Alnus hirsuta: Country Or Region Of Origin
Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Siberia, and Russian Far East
Alnus hirsuta: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Tough adaptable plant. Resistant to diseases, drought, dry or wet soil, and prevents erosion.
Alnus hirsuta: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Alnus hirsuta: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Alnus hirsuta Fruit
Alnus hirsuta: Fruit Description
The female catkin develops small wood cones measuring 3/4 inches long by 1/2 inch wide. Inside the cones are winged seeds that are released in the fall when they have matured. The cones remain on the tree through the winter months and in the next growing season.
Alnus hirsuta: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Alnus hirsuta: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Alnus hirsuta: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Alnus hirsuta: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Alnus hirsuta: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Alnus hirsuta: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Alnus hirsuta Flowers
Alnus hirsuta: Flower Description
The Manchurian Alder produces male and female florets on the same tree. The catkins are long, purple in color, and droop below the tree branches. The blooming period occurs in March and April before the leaves emerge. The florets are cross-pollinated by the wind. The female catkins remain on the tree throughout the summer then in the fall, the female catkins release seeds.
Alnus hirsuta: Flower Color
Purple/Lavender
Alnus hirsuta: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Alnus hirsuta: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Alnus hirsuta: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Alnus hirsuta Leaves
Alnus hirsuta: Leaf Description
The tree leaf is glossy green in color, ovate in shape with a rounded base, and has doubly toothed margins. It measures approximately 2.5 inches x 5 inches in length and nearly the same in width. The upper surface is slightly hairy. The underside of the leaf surface is downy and has a reddish-brown color along the midribs and veins. In the fall the leaves turn yellow in color. During the winter the leaves may drop off or just wither on the tree.
Alnus hirsuta: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Alnus hirsuta: Leaf Color
Green
Alnus hirsuta: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Gold/Yellow
Alnus hirsuta: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Alnus hirsuta: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Alnus hirsuta: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Alnus hirsuta: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Alnus hirsuta: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Alnus hirsuta: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Alnus hirsuta: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Alnus hirsuta: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Alnus hirsuta Bark
Alnus hirsuta: Bark Description
The bark is gray, smooth, and adds interest to the landscape.
Alnus hirsuta: Bark Color
Light Gray
Alnus hirsuta: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Alnus hirsuta Stem
Alnus hirsuta: Stem Description
The young shoots of the tree are hairy at first. The winter buds are egg-shaped, hairy, and purplish in color. The stem color is gray.
Alnus hirsuta: Stem Color
Gray/Silver
Alnus hirsuta: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Alnus hirsuta: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Alnus hirsuta: Stem Buds
Hairy
Hairy tips
Scaly
Smooth/Hairless
Alnus hirsuta Whole Plant Traits
Alnus hirsuta: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Alnus hirsuta: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Alnus hirsuta: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Alnus hirsuta: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Alnus hirsuta: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Alnus hirsuta: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Alnus hirsuta Cultural Conditions
Alnus hirsuta: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Alnus hirsuta: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Alnus hirsuta: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Alnus hirsuta: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Alnus hirsuta: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
Alnus hirsuta: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Alnus hirsuta Landscape
Alnus hirsuta: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Alnus hirsuta: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Alnus hirsuta: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Alnus hirsuta: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
