Buy grey alder Alnus incana: Delivery by Waitrose Garden

Alnus incana

grey alder

grey alder

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Position: full sun
Soil: moist but well-drained soil
Rate of growth: average
Hardiness: fully hardy

Noted for its ability to thrive in poor, wet conditions but is also tolerant of dry and coastal soils, Alnus incana is a fast-growing conical tree, to 20m, with dark-green leaves, grey-white and hairy beneath. Emerging before the leaves, yellow-brown male catkins in pendent clusters are produced in late winter and early spring followed by brown cone-like fruits.
Garden care: Grey alder tends to develop as a multi-stemmed tree, so if a standard tree is required, select and train a single main stem, removing all lateral branches up to 1.5-2m (5-6ft) from the ground between the autumn leaf-fall and mid-winter.