Himalayan alder is a large native tree of the western Himalayas that grows naturally along river banks, reaching 20 to 25 m. It is grown mainly for timber, firewood and shade, and it suits moist, heavy soils.
Family
Betulaceae (Birch family)
Grows as
Tree
Light
Full sun, Part shade
Water
Keep soil moist while establishing; it naturally grows beside rivers, so it prefers regular moisture.
Soil
Heavy clay or loam; tolerates poor, infertile soils.
Temperature
Cool temperate conditions; hardy in cold winters typical of its Himalayan range.
How easy
Easy
Native range
N. Pakistan to W. & C. Himalaya
Climate
temperate
About
Alnus nitida, the west Himalayan alder, is a species in the genus Alnus, native to Pakistan, the western Himalayas, and Nepal. It is a tree reaching 20 to 25 m (66 to 82 ft), preferring to live along the banks of rivers. It is used locally for timber and firewood, and as a street tree. The bark is used in some places for tanning and dyeing purposes. It grows well in heavy, clay soils and tolerates infertile soils. The leaves are thin, oval to ovate, 3–6 inches (7.6–15.2 cm) long and 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) wide. Female flowers appear first, followed by male catkinss in September to October, which may be up to 19 cm (7.5 in) long. The fruits are woody cones, typically 2.5–3.5 cm (1.0–1.4 in) long.
This tree may be attacked by the apple stem borer (Trirachys holosericeus).
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Alnus nitida by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.