Alnus Incana Aurea Grey Alder

Alnus Incana Aurea or Grey Alder Aurea
A variety of common Grey Alder, Aurea is a mid-sized, conical deciduous tree with a narrow upright habit. Early to leaf, this cultivar is appreciated for its russet-yellow foliage and bright red stems. Extremely robust and tough, Alnus Incana Aurea (to give its full botanical name) is popular for its ability to grow in cold, wet areas and poor soil. A good candidate for mass plantings or a specimen tree.

The young foliage of Grey Alder Aurea unfolds golden-green. As the seasons progress, the pointed, broadly oval leaves take on a deeper, more vivid hue of yellow gold. Reddish-yellow catkins appear in late winter to early spring and are followed by slender, cone-like red fruit that persists on the tree well into the next winter. During the colder months, the orange, copper and brownish stems offer a splash of colour and make this cultivar stand out in the landscape.

Like all alders, Grey Alder Aurea is quite undemanding and can thrive in harsh environments. Not only that this tree can be successfully grown on poor, heavy, and wet soils, these conditions actually improve it. This tree has nodules on its roots that enrich the soil by transferring nitrogen in the air directly to the soil it grows in. For best performance, plant this deciduous tree in full sun and moist but well-drained soil.

Comfortable even in the severest European climates, Alnus Incana Aurea is fully hardy in the United Kingdom. This cultivar is not bothered by frosts, harsh, cold winds and won’t mind even if the temperatures drop to 20 degrees below zero. The impressive performance in various conditions and highly-decorative appearance won this striking variety the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by Royal Horticultural Society.

Growing at a much slower rate than its close relatives, Grey Alder Aurea can achieve a maximum height of 20 metres with a spread of 8 metres. Considered to be a medium-sized tree, this cultivar is a good candidate for large and smaller gardens both. When it comes to maintenance, there is little that needs to be done to keep this plant healthy and attractive. Lightly prune in late winter to early spring, removing all dead or damaged stems.

Tough and adaptable, Alnus Incana Aurea is suitable for any garden. Its stunning yellow foliage offers interest for the better part of the year and, during the winter months, vibrant stems provide decorative value. Its lovely appearance makes it a good candidate for a focus of interest in the garden when grown on its own, but this tree will feel at home in mixed shrub borders as well.