Red alder is the most plentiful hardwood on British Columbia’s (B.C.) coast. The medium-sized broadleaf tree grows up to 24 metres and has a life span of 40 to 60 years. Its wood is moderately dense and uniformed textured, and it is an important species for many specialty products.
Red alder is used in furniture, flooring, cabinets, turnery, decorative veneer and other home décor products. It is also used for high-value products such as doors and shutters, domestic woodenware and toys.
Where it grows
Red alder is found all along the coast of B.C. and is the most plentiful hardwood in the region. It does not tolerate shade well and occupies a site quickly after a disturbance. Red alder grows rapidly in even-aged pure stands, often shading out conifers such as Douglas-fir. It is found on sites rich with nutrients, including floodplains and streambanks.
Red alder occurs with all of the low-elevation coastal tree species, including black cottonwood, grand fir, Douglas-fir and the cedars. It tends to be associated with a dense layer of shrubs and herbs such as salmonberry, red elderberry and several ferns.
Identifiable characteristics
Red alder is a medium-sized broadleaf tree that grows up to 24 metres. In the forest, it develops a slightly tapered trunk extending up to a narrow, rounded crown. In the open, its crown starts near the ground, giving it a broad cone shape.
The oval-shaped leaves have pointed tips and coarsely toothed edges that tend to curl under. Hair-covered veins form a ladder-like pattern on the leaf. The leaves are bright green on top and greenish underneath and stay green under they drop off. The bark is thin and is greenish on young trees and turns grey to whitish with age. The inner bark and fresh wounds tend to turn deep reddish-orange when exposed to air. Red alder matures at about 60 years, and rarely lives past 100 years.
Did you know?
Red alder wood is low in pitch so it is good for smoking meat and seafood. Its smoke is delicate, subtle and slightly sweet.
