Practical
Plants

Alnus serrulata

Smooth Alder

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Alnus genus in the family Betulaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Alnus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
4.5 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A tea made from the bark is analgesic, astringent, blood purifier, diuretic, emetic and purgative[8][4][7]. It is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, the pain of childbirth, coughs, toothache and sore mouths[4]. Externally, it is used as an eye wash and a wash for hives, poison ivy rash, piles, swellings and sprains[4]. A decoction of the cones is astringent[8].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Purgative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Trees have extensive root systems and are sometimes planted on the banks of streams in order to prevent erosion[5]. The wood is soft and brittle, weighing 29lb per cubic foot[5]. It is of little commercial value[6].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Maine to Florida, west to Oklahoma and Indiana.
Habitat
Moist lowlands, such as swamps, and along ponds and streams where it forms thickets[4][6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 2+
Soil textures
loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe and only just covered[3]. Spring sown seed should also germinate successfully so long as it is not covered[200, K]. The seed should germinate in the spring as the weather warms up. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots. If growth is sufficient, it is possible to plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer, otherwise keep them in pots outdoors and plant them out in the spring. If you have sufficient quantity of seed, it can be sown thinly in an outdoor seed bed in the spring[9]. 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. Cuttings of mature wood, taken as soon as the leaves fall in autumn, outdoors in sandy soil.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a heavy soil and a damp situation[1][2]. Grows well in heavy clay soils[2]. Tolerates very infertile sites[3]. Requires a position in full sun, dying out when shaded by taller trees[6]. A fast-growing but short-lived tree[6]. This species is closely related to A. rugosa[2]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil micro-organisms, these form nodules on the roots of the plants and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[3].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  5. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩1↩2

  6. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

  8. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  9. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

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