Alnus rubra Red alder (Betulaceae) Deciduous tree

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Alnus rubra
Red alder
Deciduous tree
(1 Page of 5)

The Alnus rubra plant species is found in Western N. America - Alaska to California. It is a member of the Betulaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Red alder. Some home gardeners know the variety as A. oregona.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Alnus rubra
Common Name:  Red alder
Family:  Betulaceae
Author:  Bong.

Known Hazards:  The freshly harvested inner bark is emetic but is alright once it has been dried[172].

Mature Height:  20   Mature Width:

Habitat:  Moist rich soils in woods, usually below 600 metres and within 50 km of the coast[60, 82, 229].

Medicinal Information: Red alder was widely employed medicinally by native North American Indians who mainly used the bark to treat a wide range of complaints[257]. The plant is little used in modern herbalism[K]. The bark is appetizer, astringent, cathartic, cytostatic, emetic, stomachic and tonic[61, 172, 257]. The bark contains salicin[226], which probably decomposes into salicylic acid (closely related to aspirin) in the human body[213]. This is used as an anodyne and febrifuge[226]. An infusion of the bark has been used in the treatment of many complaints such as headaches, rheumatic pains, internal injuries and diarrhoea[226, 257]. Externally, a poultice of the bark has been applied to eczema, sores and aches[257]. The sap is applied externally to cuts[257]. The catkins and young cones are astringent and have been chewed in the treatment of diarrhoea[257].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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