Alnus cordata - click image
JC Raulston Arboretum. Summer 2005. A good view of the very wide, heart-shaped blades. While far from being a new species, it is being newly revisited. The Italian Alder has been looked at as a Bradford pear replacement though the leaf is never so shiny. Cultivars like 'Sipkes' and 'Purpurea' should be given more weight in trials as can be some hybrids of it. The species has proven durable under urban conditions and like most alders some of the more difficult soils on earth. Drought and cold is little barrier. If I had a dollar for every time W.J. Bean said a species was "not planted enough" (AND IT STILL REMAINS TRUE), I'd been writing this from a diamond-encrusted Chateau. I wish we listened to him more and then acted. The erect, conical, fruit in this species is large enough to be a bit more than a novelty at a full inch to 1.5 inches tall. LCH.

Alnus cordata

Alnus cordata 'Purpurea'
lc: new growth purplish-brown
or: Kornik, Poland 1927

Alnus cordata 'Sipkes'
ha: vigorous and uniformly upright with ovate crown
ht: est. 20m maximum
ll: larger
lc: dark and glossy green
hp: it was first thought to be a cross to A. incana but this is disproven
hp: according to 'investigations'.
lu: recommended habit for a street tree
prop: roots well from cuttings in Boskoop trials.
or: seedling found in Russendiun Holland in 1965 by C. Sipkes
li: Laar, H.J. van der. 1988. Alnus 'Sipkes'. Dendroflora 1988 25: 4-6.

Alnus x elliptica 'Itolanda' (A. cordata x A. glutinosa)
ht: 20m +
ha: vigorous, tree
ls: elliptic, veins incurved slightly
frt: cones in clusters of 3
ll: larger than parent A. cordata
or: S.G.A. Doorenbos, Hague, Netherlands 1935 as change seedling.
ns: the name is a hybrid of the parent species' locals, being Italy and Olanda (Holland)

Alnus glutinosa 'Angustiloba'
ls: deeply incised with acute narrow lobes - more deeply cut than 'Laciniata'

Alnus glutinosa 'Aurea'
ha: slower than species, a weak grower according to Krüssman.
bk: orangish, paler than species
lc: yellow, especially when young
or: found at Vervaena Nursery, Ledeberg, Belgium in 1860

Alnus glutinosa var. barbata (C.A. Mey.) Ledeb. (A. barbata Ledeb.)
ls: ovate-obling, finely serrate
lv: finely pubescent below
geo: Iran, Caucasus
in: cultivated since 1870

Alnus glutinosa 'Charles Howlett'
or: selected by David Howlett in 1982 at Chandler's Ford UK
ls: irregular
lc: variegated in some manner
bk: yellow and orange streaked
gr: slower than species as typical
rd: 7 Oct. 1986
li: registration published in HortScience 23(3): 454

Alnus glutinosa var. denticulata (C. A. Mey.) Ledeb.
ls: broadly elliptic to obovate, occasionally lobed on vigorous shoots. 7-9 vein pairs.
la: obtuse
lm: finely double serrate
geo: Caucasus
in: cultivated since about 1759

Alnus glutinosa f. graeca Call.
ll: 2-5-3.5cm long - much smaller than typical f. glutinosa
lt: more thick, leathery than f. glutinosa
geo: Greece, Naxos, Euboea

Alnus glutinosa 'Imperalis' is the most narrow and extreme of the cutleaf alders. It is perhaps the most recognizable, radical, and freakish of all cutleaf trees. The lobes are distinctly acuminate (sharply and narrowly pointed) with bowed or arching veins. Unlike the flat blades of 'Laciniata' and 'Incisa' these leaves are curiously 3-dimensional, slightly twisted, and downright bizarre. Click on this image for a larger version.

Alnus glutinosa 'Imperialis'
ha: smaller, slower than species, often a shrub rather than a tree
ls: deeply incised to 2/3 deep, much more deep than 'Laciniata'. Lobes very narrowly acuminate with arching
la: or bowed veins unlike 'Lacinata'
in: in gardens since before 1859

Alnus glutinosa 'Incisa' ('Oxycanthifolia')
ha: often shrubby but a small tree with age, mounded when young, usually dense
ls: lightly incised, actually more shallowly lobed resembling a Crataegus or hawthorn leaf. 'Imperialis' and
ls: 'Lacinata' are far more incised than this. Lobes are mostly rounded or obtuse unlike the other cultivars
ls: which have acute to acuminate lobes of some length.
ll: smaller than species typical
in: cultivated since about 1800

Alnus glutinosa f. lacera (Mela) Mela
ha: shrub or small tree
ls: oblong to oval, irregularly incised as if ripped, usually in 10-12 lobes per leaf. Lobes are oblong, deeply cut
ls: to 1/3 depth. Never deeply incised like 'Imperialis'. Lobed often overlap unlike the other cut-leaved sorts.
ll: 4-7cm long
lw: 2-4cm wide
in: found in Finland before 1892

Alnus glutinosa 'Laciniata' is delightfully cut but less so than 'Imperialis' (left). The veins are mostly straight and not arched or bowed as true 'Imperialis'. 'Incisa' and f. incisa differ in having more obtuse to broadly acute lobe tips, and something of a hawthorn-like shape. The lobe apices in 'Imperialis' and 'Laciniata' are acuminate or very narrowly acute. Click on this image for a larger, fullscreen version.

'Lacinata' - click images
Arboretum, Cornell Plantations. August 2005. Two more looks at a tough and pretty plant that should be used more, especially in colder, difficult sites where other
cut-leaved trees are not as reliable.

Alnus glutinosa 'Lacinata'
ls: moderately incised 1/3 to 1/2 depth, far less so than 'Imperialis'. Lobes less long and acuminate than that
ls: cultivar too.
or: found in garden near St. Germain, France in 1819.

Alnus glutinosa 'Lobulata'
ls: distinct lobed, somewhat hawthorn-like but a larger leaf than 'Incisa'. Lobes usually rounded and toothed unlike
ls: 'Lacinata' and 'Imperialis' with long, acute to acuminate lobes. It is only cut about 1/4 deep unlike many of the
ls: others.
la: often obtuse in overall outline unlike some of the cut-leaved clones
or: found in Finland 1895Alnus glutinosa 'Maculata'
lc: lightly spotted white, not very showy

Alnus glutinosa 'Minutifolia'
ht: 4m
ha: shrub
ls: suborbicular (nearly round) to oval
lm: crenate
ll: 1.5-2.5cm
lw: 1.5-2.5cm
or: found in Aland, Scandinavia about 1889

Alnus glutinosa f. parvifolia (Ktze.) Call.
ls: smaller, more rounded
ll: 3-5cm long
geo: sometimes found in the wild with f. glutinosa in Europe

'Pyramidalis' - click image
Dawes Arboretum. Summer 2004. A tough and dark tree. It appeared to be one of the narrow Callery pears from a distance. Fortunately it has
more tough stuff.

Alnus glutinosa 'Pyramidalis' (f. fastigiata Beissner, f. pyramidalis birkiana Spaeth)
ha: narrowly pyramidal
ll: shorter than species typical
lc: dark green
or: cultivated since 1880.

Alnus glutinosa 'Quercifolia'
ls: incised 1/8 to 1/4 deep wtih 6-8 lobes per leaf, often broadest above the middle unlike other lobed or cut
ls: cultivars. It reminds one more of oak than hawthorn or cutleaved beech for example.
la: often obtuse in outline
lb: more narrowly cuneate than some other cultivars, especially 'Laciniata' and 'Lobulata' which are broadly cuneate
lb: to rotund.

Alnus glutinosa 'Rubrinerva'
ha: vigorous, conical
st: glossy, reddish-brown when young, viscid
ls: obovate to suborbicular
lb: cuneate to rotund
lm: once or doubly serrate
lc: dark green with reddish veins, somewhat showy on close look
pet: more red than species typical
or: found in Germany c. 1870

Alnus glutinosa 'Sorbifolia' (f. sorbifolia Dipp/)
ha: openly branched, usually a tree form
ls: oblong to elliptic, usually 12 oblong, crenate lobes.
ns: Krussman states it is similar to f. lacera and perhaps a clone from it.
or: cultivated since 1892.

Alnus hirsuta PRAIRIE HORIZON™ 'Harbin' (4/5)
ht: 30-40 ft. tall x 20-30 ft. wide
ha: vigorous
bk: grey, smooth, somewhat beech-like
lc: dark green
lu: more drought tolerant clone in North Dakota State Univ. trials
frc: male aments purplish, female cones brown, both adding some interest
in: N. Dakota State Univ. Spring 2005

Alnus incana 'Angermannica'
ls: oval in outline, sometimes broadly so. Incised with serratations on each lobe. Krussman describes it as "incised
ls: to the midrib" yet his plate shows something not even cut 1/2 deep to the midrib. Mostly 12 lobed.
or: found in Angermanland, Sweden in 1909.
lb: cordate - not rotund as many other cultivars

Alnus incana 'Angustissima'
ls: very highly and irregular incised, often nearly to the midrib. Lobes are thread-like at time, often coarsely
ls: and irregularly lobed, all lobes being acuminate or very narrow. Truly a lacy form and much more cut than
ls: even A. glutinosa 'Imperialis'
or: Krussman states it is found in Sweden, Norway, and Finland.

Alnus incana 'Arcuata'
st: new twigs distinctly bowed unlike the similar 'Chamaedryoides'
ls: broadly ovate to oval overall, sharply and doubly serrate with acute lobes.
or: found in Sweden 1887

Alnus incana 'Aurea'
st: new twigs yellow becoming a nice orange-red in cold weather
lc: yellow to yellow-green, not always impressive for color
frc: more orange than species typical

Alnus incana f. blyttiana Call.
ls: ovate to broadly elliptic, lobed with short, obtuse lobes. 7-8 vein pairs.
la: obtuse
ll: 2.5-3.0cm
lc: bluish-green below
lv: slightly pubescent
frt: cones sessile

Alnus incana 'Bolleana'
lc: irregularly yellow spotted
or: Schwerin Arboretum, East Germany before 1904

Alnus incana 'Chamaedryoides'
ll: 3.5-4.5cm - smaller than species typical
ls: elliptic-oval in outline, coarsely dentate to blunted serrate. Base may be near entire. Teeth often deltoid.

Alnus incana 'Coccinea'
st: orange-red, showy
lc: yellowish-green, blue-green below
lv: mostly glabrous
ls: broadly ovate

Alnus incana 'Dalecarlica'
ls: broadly elliptic in outline, incised 1/3 to 1/2 deep, less so than 'Laciniata'. The lobes are not serrate as with
ls: 'Semipinnata' for example. Lobes may be slightly bowed.
or: found in Sweden 1926.

Alnus incana 'Falunensis'
ls: incised similar to 'Lacinata' but lobes more reuglar in size and shape, somewhat narrower, and less deep. Lobes
ls: are also sometimes serrate unlike many of the cut-leaved cultivars which are more consistently entire.
or: found in Dalarna Sweden in 1889.

Alnus incana var. glauca = Alnus rugosa

Alnus incana var. hirsuta = A. hirsuta

Alnus japonica - click image
Morris Arboretum. August 2005. A surprisingly interesting species that I'd not seen before as a mature tree. The more elongated, glossy dark leaf is immediately appealing. Blades easily reach 4-7 inches in some cases. It's been in the US since about 1896 and known in Europe since 1866 or perhaps as late as 1880. Bean points out that it flowers in early spring, making it rather distinct amongst the species.

Alnus japonica

Alnus jorullensis 'Royal Cascade' (1/02)
ha: prostrate or weeping
bk: waxy, lenticellate, brown
ld: evergreen (Australia)
ls: elliptic
lv: glabrous
lm: serrate
or: seedling in species population
li: Robinson, W. and W. Bailey. 1992. Plant Varieties Journal 5(4): 14-15.

Alnus maritima subsp. oklahomensis 'September Sun' (9/5)
ha: vigorous, denser than species typical, multi-trunked, symmetrical as vegetative clone
lc: dark green
afc: yellow, orange, and brown shades, variably mottled shades
fc: aments yellow, showy
prop: software cuttings
eval, lu: tolerant of flooded, wet soils and low nutrients.
ch: USDA 3b
pat, or, in: Dr. William Graves, Iowa State Univ., US PPAF 5/26/2005

Alnus nitida HELLO HELLO™ (7/02)
ha: vigorous, growing nearly all year in Australia. Lack of dormancy is claimed. Plants have grown up to 6m
ha: a year in favorable conditions by dealer's reports.
lc: glossy medium green
ld: evergreen - some species selections are more deciduous in Australia
in: Lucas Finance Pty, Emerald, Victoria, Aust. 6/01
lu: useful for erosion control, large windbreak, forest production. If one can cut through the hype of websites
lu: and brochures it seems to have a function which ultra-vigorous poplars perform in colder climates. An
lu: academic, statistical appraisal would be welcome as such "miracle trees" often have faults.
so: hellohello.com.au (online catalog 2002)

Alnus rubra 'Aldered States' (5/3)
ht: 20 ft, (8 years)
lc: bright golden yellow
in, or, so: Collector's Nursery (online catalog 2003), found in Cascade Mts USA