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Alnus maritima - (Marsh.)Muhlenb.

Common Name Seaside Alder, Beach Alder
Family Betulaceae
USDA hardiness 3-7
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Along edges of ponds and small streams, often in standing water; from sea level to 100 metres[82, 270].
Range Eastern and Central N. America - Delaware, Maryland and Oklahoma.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Wet Soil Full sun
Alnus maritima Seaside Alder,  Beach Alder


Alnus maritima Seaside Alder,  Beach Alder
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Alnus_maritima_drawing_1.png

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Purple, Red. Main Bloom Time: Early fall, Late fall, Mid fall. Form: Pyramidal, Rounded.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Alnus maritima is a deciduous Tree growing to 9 m (29ft 6in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from September to October, and the seeds ripen in May. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy; Secondary;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Biomass  Wood

This species has the potential to be used as a biomass crop[269]. Wood - light, soft, close-grained. Light brown in colour with thick, hardly distinguishable heartwood[82].

Special Uses

Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Erosion control, Massing. Prefers a heavy soil and a damp situation, but it succeeds in ordinary garden soil[11]. Grows well in heavy clay soils[11]. Tolerates very infertile sites[200]. Trees are tolerant of frost, poor soil, and some salinity and water-logging[269]. Seaside alder is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation in the range of 95 to 400cm, an average annual temperature of 13. 5 to 18°C, and a pH in the range of 6. 1 to 8. 1[269]. 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[200]. Special Features: North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is branching: a heart root, dividing from the crown into several primary roots going down and out [2-1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed -

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Oklahoma, Delaware (southeast), Georgia (Bartow Co.), Maryland (east))

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Alnus acuminataAlderTree25.0 10-12 FLMHSNM023
Alnus cordataItalian AlderTree25.0 5-9 FMHSNDMWe004
Alnus glutinosaAlder, European alder , Common Alder, Black AlderTree25.0 3-7 FMHSNMWe035
Alnus hirsuta Tree18.0 3-7  MHSNMWe002
Alnus incanaGrey Alder, Speckled alder, Thinleaf alder, White AlderTree18.0 2-6 FMHSNDMWe003
Alnus japonicaJapanese AlderTree22.0 4-8 FMHSNDMWe012
Alnus jorullensisMexican alder, Evergreen AlderTree25.0 7-12 FLMHSNMWe003
Alnus maximowiczii Tree9.0 4-8  MHSNMWe002
Alnus nepalensisNepalese AlderTree22.0 8-11 FMHSNMWe013
Alnus nitidaWest Himalayan AlderTree30.0 7-10  MHSNDMWe013
Alnus rhombifoliaWhite AlderTree12.0 8-11 FMHSNMWe122
Alnus rubraRed Alder, Oregon AlderTree20.0 6-8 FMHSNMWe224
Alnus rugosaSpeckled AlderTree22.0 2-6 FMHSNMWe023
Alnus serrulataSmooth Alder, Hazel alderShrub4.5 3-9  MHNMWe022
Alnus sinuataSitka AlderShrub4.0 2-9 FMHSNMWe113
Alnus tenuifoliaMountain Alder, Thinleaf alderTree9.0 5-7 FMHSNMWe123
Alnus viridis crispaAmerican Green AlderShrub3.0 4-8  MHSNMWe123

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Marsh.)Muhlenb.

Botanical References

82200270

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

James Schrader   Thu Mar 20 2008

Alnus maritima is now known to be cold hardy to UDSA zone 4. (See Schrader and Graves 2003) Schrader, J.A. and W.R. Graves. 2003. Phenology and depth of cold acclimation in the three subspecies of Alnus maritima. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 128: 330-336.

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