From a botanical point of view, cones are the typical spike-shaped inflorescences of coniferous trees or their seeds-containing fruits. Still, it's not a major scientific discovery when you come across a deciduous tree with cone-like fruits in the fall - instead, you've discovered an alder tree whose fruits look not unlike the cones of a conifer.
Which deciduous tree has small cones?
Deciduous trees with small cones are usually alder species such as black alder, white alder and imperial alder, which develop cone-like fruits. These trees often grow in wet areas or near bodies of water.
Many alder species have cone-like fruits
Alders (Alnus) are closely related to birch trees (Betula) and are found primarily in wetlands and on the banks of rivers, streams and other bodies of water. Only black, green or white alder are native to Germany, although the latter is sometimes also referred to as gray alder in the literature. However, in gardens with a larger garden pond or another body of water, non-native species such as the imperial alder or the heart-leaved alder are often planted. All species develop cone-like, very small fruits.
Black Alder
The black alder (Alnus glutinosa) is one of the pioneer tree species, is very fast-growing and quickly conquers fallow land and damp peripheral areas. Older trees are easy to recognize by their black-brown, torn bark.
White Alder
The gray or white alder (Alnus incana) is very similar to the black alder in terms of habit, habitat and lifestyle, although the bark is significantly lighter. It is also much rarer than the black alder.
Heart-leaved alder
In contrast to the native species, the heart-leaved or Italian alder (Alnus cordata) is often planted in gardens. The tree, which grows to a height of around 20 meters, has leathery, heart-shaped and shiny dark green leaves at the base.
Purple Alder
The Späths alder or purple alder (Alnus x spaethii) is also a popular tree for gardens and parks that grows up to 15 meters high. Its leaves, up to 18 centimeters long, are brownish purple when they shoot, matt dark green during the summer months and purple-red when the autumn color begins late.
Kaiser Alder
The imperial alder (Alnus glutinosa 'Imperialis') is a cultivated form of the black alder and develops into a loosely structured tree up to ten meters high with overhanging branches. The delicate leaves have three to four narrow, deeply cut lobes on each side.
Tip
The tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), which is related to magnolias and is a non-native tree that is often cultivated in gardens, also produces six to eight centimeter long, cone-like collected fruits.
