Zones 2-6
Full Sun to Part Shade
70 feet tall
Medium to Moist Site
Approximately 20 seeds per packet
Green alder (Alnus viridis subsp. crispa) is a cold-hardy native shrub found across boreal and subalpine regions of Canada and the United States. This pioneer species is commonly found on open slopes, cutlines, burn sites and mine reclamation areas. Green alder is an excellent species for soil stabilization and nitrogen fixation and offers wildlife value as its twigs and leaves are browsed by moose, deer and snowshoe hares.
A multi-stemmed shrub, green alder tends to only reach up to 4 meters in height with a stem diameter of 2-10 cm.
Sustainably wild collected from Ontario seed zone SE4 or 26
Growing Instructions:
Germination: Soak in water for 24 hours, then cold-stratify in a fridge for 3 months ensuring they stay moist.
After the cold stratification period, sow on soil surface, at temperature of 20-25C (68-77F) to germinate. Seed require heat and sunlight to germination, so do not bury seeds. Germination generally occurs within 2-4 weeks but can be irregular and take as much as 90 days.