Italian alder 40/60cm (P9T)
Alnus cordata
£17.79
The Italian Alder, Alnus cordata, is a fast-growing deciduous tree that offers year-round interest in gardens and landscapes. It features glossy, heart-shaped leaves that persist well into winter, attractive catkins in early spring, and a neat, conical shape. This hardy, adaptable tree is perfect for challenging sites, windbreaks, or as a handsome specimen in larger spaces.
- ✓ Fast-growing tree with attractive, heart-shaped leaves that persist into winter
- ✓ Produces golden-brown catkins in late winter to early spring for added interest
- ✓ Adaptable to various conditions, including poor soils and coastal areas
- ✓ Excellent choice for windbreaks, screening, or as a specimen tree in difficult sites
- ✓ Quality UK grown stock from Yarrow Gardens - DEFRA Registered Supplier
In stock - Usually dispatched within a few days
The Italian Alder, or Alnus cordata, is a graceful deciduous tree that brings year-round interest to gardens and landscapes. Known for its rapid growth and attractive heart-shaped leaves, this alder species stands out with its neat, conical shape that becomes more rounded with age. The foliage is particularly appealing, with glossy, dark green leaves that persist well into autumn, often staying on the tree until early winter. This extended leaf retention gives the Italian Alder an almost evergreen appearance in milder climates, providing structure and greenery when many other deciduous trees are bare.
Italian Alder typically grows to heights of 15-20 metres in cultivation, with a spread of 6-10 metres. Its relatively fast growth rate means you can enjoy its impressive stature within a reasonable timeframe. The tree’s bark is smooth and grey when young, developing subtle fissures as it matures, adding textural interest to the winter landscape.
One of the most charming features of Alnus cordata is its catkins. Male catkins appear in late winter to early spring, dangling in golden-brown clusters and providing early interest in the garden. These are followed by small, cone-like female catkins which mature into woody structures that persist on the tree, adding to its ornamental value throughout the year.
Gardeners often choose the Italian Alder for its adaptability and ornamental qualities. It’s particularly useful in challenging sites, as it can tolerate poor soils, exposed positions, and even coastal conditions. This makes it an excellent choice for windbreaks, screening, or as a specimen tree in difficult areas where other trees might struggle.
This alder works well in various garden settings, from large residential gardens to public spaces and urban plantings. Its neat, upright form makes it suitable for avenue planting or as a focal point in a mixed border. The tree’s ability to fix nitrogen in the soil also makes it beneficial for improving soil conditions in poor or disturbed sites.
For gardeners looking to add a robust, fast-growing tree with year-round appeal to their outdoor space, the Italian Alder is an excellent option. Its attractive foliage, interesting catkins, and ability to thrive in various conditions make it a valuable addition to any suitable garden or landscape.
Caring for an Italian Alder is relatively straightforward, especially once established. Plant it in a spot that gets full sun to partial shade. It’s adaptable to various soil types, including poor or waterlogged soils, but prefers moist, well-drained conditions. Water regularly when it’s first planted to help it establish. Once settled, it’s quite drought-tolerant but will appreciate deep watering during prolonged dry spells, especially in its first few years. You don’t need to feed it often – a light application of balanced fertiliser in spring is enough if the soil is particularly poor. Pruning isn’t necessary to maintain its shape, but you can remove any dead or damaged branches if needed. Keep an eye out for any signs of leaf discolouration or dieback, which could indicate stress or disease. The Italian Alder is hardy in most parts of Britain and can cope with exposed sites without extra protection.
Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres
Time to ultimate height
20–50 years
Ultimate spread
4–8 metres
Season of Interest
Summer, Autumn
Sunlight
Full Sun
Pot Size
9cm (Tall)
Foliage
Deciduous
Foliage Colour
Green
Hardiness
-5°C to 1°C (H3)
When MatureWatering
Moderate
Preferred Soil Type
Any well drained soil
Our unique tall 9cm pots is a smart strategy for cultivating trees with strong and deep root systems. This practice can lead to healthier and more resilient trees that are better prepared for transplantation and long-term growth in your UK garden.
Promoting Deep Root Development with Tall 9cm Pots:
1. Enhanced Root Growth: Using tall pots, such as 9cm pots, encourages trees to develop a deeper and more extensive root system. The added height of the pot allows the tree’s roots to grow downward, seeking nutrients and water in the lower soil layers.
2. Reduced Root Circling: Traditional, shallower pots can sometimes lead to root circling, where the roots grow in a circular pattern around the pot’s base. This can restrict the tree’s ability to access essential resources. Tall pots mitigate this issue, as roots are less likely to encounter physical barriers that encourage circling.
3. Improved Stability: The additional depth provided by tall pots offers improved stability for young trees. It allows for better anchoring and support, which is particularly important during periods of strong winds or inclement weather.
4. Better Soil Temperature Regulation: Tall pots offer improved insulation for the root system. This can help maintain more stable soil temperatures, protecting the roots from extreme heat or cold. This is crucial for healthy root development, especially in the unpredictable UK climate.
5. Reduced Transplant Shock: When it’s time to transplant a tree from a tall pot into the ground, the deeper root system developed in the tall pot can reduce transplant shock. The tree is better equipped to establish itself in its new environment.
6. Versatility: Tall pots are versatile and can accommodate a wide range of tree species. They are particularly useful for growing trees that have a taproot, which naturally grows deeper.
Delivery
Yarrow Gardens aim to have your order with you in fastest time possible and safest method of transport. Dependent on the parcel size and geographical destination in mind with will select the most suitable courier.
You are welcome to collect any times from our nursery in Euxton, Lancashire. Please contact us to arrange a suitable date and time.
With regret, we can no longer send items out to Northern Ireland. All live plants need a phytosanitary checks and DAERA must be notified. This process is simply too expensive at the moment.
Returns
In the rare instance that your item has been damaged during delivery or incorrectly shipped by us, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss the return and replacement of your item.
Once you have contacted us and we have confirmation that your parcel is on its way back to us we will be happy to issue a refund for the return postage.
| Delivery Class | Delivery Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Mail Letter - Royal Mail Tracked | £3.25 (Flat) | |
| Royal Mail Letter - Royal Mail Second Class | £0.95 (Flat) | |
| Royal Mail Large Letter - Royal Mail Tracked | £3.25 (Flat) | |
| Royal Mail Large Letter - Royal Mail Second Class | £2.10 (Flat) | |
| Standard Items - Standard Courier (ParcelForce) | £7.95 (Flat) | This item |
| Standard Items - Standard Courier (Evri) | £4.49 (Flat) | This item |
| Medium Items - Standard Courier (ParcelForce) | £7.95 (Flat) | |
| Large Items (Heavy or +1.4m) - Pallet Courier | £90.00 (Flat) | |
| Large Items (Heavy or +1.4m) - Standard Courier (ParcelForce) | £24.95 (Flat) | |
| Pallet Courier - Pallet Courier | £90.00 (Flat) |
We are a small family business based in Euxton, West Lancashire. We specialise in the supply of trees, shrubs both bare root & cell grown. Much of our stock is grown directly on site from seed or cuttings. Other stock is all UK sourced where possible.
We adhere to industry leading biosecurity measures, this ensures that our nursery remains clean and disease free.
We are DEFRA registered and our nursery is regularly inspected to confirm compliance with all current plant and plant health regulations.
Our Plant Passport Registration Number is GB140010
You can view our Plant Healthy report here.
We are actively working towards the Grown in Britain certification along with the Plant Healthy certification.
Should you have any concern or question in respect of our plant health matters, please get in touch.
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