About
Alnus incana 'Angustissima' is a medium-sized deciduous tree that can reach heights of up to 20 meters. Its leaves are finely structured, with much of the leaf area reduced around the veins, resulting in a lacy appearance that provides less shade than typical foliage. In autumn, the leaves turn a light yellow before dropping. During late winter, the male catkins, which are purple-brown, emerge and can grow up to 8 centimeters long, while the female cones form clusters and remain on the tree throughout the winter months.
About the genus
Alnus comprises robust deciduous trees and sizable shrubs characterized by their rounded foliage and, during winter, noticeable catkins.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Poorly-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Trees
- Habit
- Spreading branched, Columnar upright
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- Higher than 12 metres
- Spread
- wider than 8 metres
- Time to full height
- 20-50 years
- Suggested uses
- Architectural
Care notes
- Cultivation
- It is a nitrogen-fixer so can grow on poor soil. Suited to river banks on permanently damp soil in good light. For more information see tree cultivation.
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1
- Propagation
- Propagate from hardwood cuttings in autumn
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to alder leaf beetle, alder sucker and leaf-mining sawflies
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to phytophthora root rot and honey fungus