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Alnus incana 'Aurea'
  • RHS AGM

grey alder 'Aurea'

A large, conical, deciduous tree with yellow-green leaves. Conspicuous male catkins, to 10cm long, appear in spring. The smaller female catkins are followed by small, cone-like fruit that turn dark brown in autumn and persist into winter

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Size
Ultimate height
8–12 metres
Time to ultimate height
20–50 years
Ultimate spread
4–8 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Brown Green Yellow
Summer Green Yellow
Autumn Green Yellow Brown
Winter Brown
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or North–facing or East–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Betulaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus

Alnus are vigorous deciduous trees and large shrubs with rounded leaves and often conspicuous catkins in winter

Name status

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Able to thrive in poor, wet conditions but also tolerates dry soils

Propagation

Propagate by hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Low Maintenance
  • Hedging and screens
Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to alder leaf beetle, alder sucker and leaf-mining sawflies

Diseases

May be susceptible to phytophthora root rot and honey fungus

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