The Manchurian Alder is adeciduous tree in the birch family (Betulaceae and is native to Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Siberia, and the Russian Far East. The tree is typically found in 2500 to 5000 feet elevations near small rivers, bogs, springs, or wet places at the foot of mountains. The genus nameis Latin for Alder. The species' name is Latin for coarsely hairy. The tree grows with a low rounded canopy to 30 to 60 feet tall with a 20 to 30-foot spread. It prefers full sun to partial shade in moist well-drained soils, tolerates poor soils and occasional standing water. The shallow roots form root suckers and produce colonies. It is the most drought-tolerant of all the alders. It has dangling male catkins and shorter female catkins that appear in the spring before the leaves emerge. The leaves turn yellow in fall and the bark is smooth gray. The Manchurian Alder is planted to improve soil, control erosion, and provide shade and shelter. The tree roots add nitrogen to the soil by forming a relationship with certain soil microorganisms. It can be used as a shade tree in yards and parks and in naturalized areas. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Possible pests may include Ussuri Oyster Shell Scale, Asian Ambrosia Beetle, alder wooly saw fly and the Black and White Long Horn Beetle. No known significant diseases.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
more than 60 feet
NC region
Mountains
Mature size
Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in. | Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed; Pyramidal
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Doubly Dentate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The tree leaf is glossy green in color, ovate in shape with a rounded base, and has doubly toothed margins. It measures approximately 2.5 to 5 inches in length and nearly the same in width. The upper surface is slightly hairy. The underside of the leaf surface is downy and has a reddish-brown color along the midribs and veins. In the fall the leaves turn yellow During the winter the leaves may drop off or just wither on the tree.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Catkin
Flower detail
The male catkins are 2-4 inches long, purple-brown in color, and droop below the tree branches. The female catkins are 5/8 inch long. The blooming period occurs in March and April before the leaves emerge.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Samara
Fruit value
Long-lasting
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The female catkin develops small wood cones measuring 3/4 inches long by 1/2 inch wide. Inside the cones are winged seeds that are released in the fall when they have matured. The cones remain on the tree through the winter months and in the next growing season.
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
The bark is gray, smooth, and adds interest to the landscape.
Stem color
Gray/Silver
Stem detail
The young shoots of the tree are hairy at first. The winter buds are egg-shaped, hairy, and purplish in color. The stem color is gray.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Siberia, and Russian Far East
Wildlife value
Host to esveral species of Lepidoptera. Provides cover for wildlife, is browsed by deer and moose and the seeds are eaten by birds.
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Samara
Uses (ethnobotany)
The wood may be used for building furniture or agricultural tools as well as for fuelwood or making charcoal. Both leaves and bark have potent astringent properties and are used medicinally. The "cones" (dried infructescences) can produce a textile dye.