Alnus cordata

Italian alder

Family: Betulaceae · Type: tree · Not Native

Italian alder is a naturalized tree found in northern coastal California, specifically in the Santa Rosa area of Spring Lake Park, at elevations below 310 meters. Flowering from October to November, this tree produces flowers typical of alders, though specific color details are not provided. Growing to heights exceeding 9 meters with substantial trunks, it has an upright, robust tree form. Its leaves are distinctive, with heart-shaped (cordate) to flat (truncate) bases, obtuse to short-pointed tips, and margins that are slightly flat with rounded teeth, generally smooth with occasional hair tufts in leaf vein intersections. This tree, originally from Italy, has established itself as a garden escape in California's landscape.

Habitat: Garden escape

Bloom period: Oct-Nov(in Italy)

Elevation: < 310 m

Bioregions: NCoRO (Spring Lake Park, Santa Rosa)

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.