In early spring, the alder buds are the first signs of spring. Not only do the buds have an interesting look, their further development over the course of the year is also very remarkable. Find out more about the alder tree and its buds in this article.
What do alder buds look like and how do they develop over the course of the year?
The alder buds are the first signs of spring and vary in color and shape depending on the species. They develop into catkins that bloom from the end of February and later lead to the formation of woody, black cones that remain on the branches until the next spring.
Characteristics of the buds of different alder species
Heart-leaved alder
- brown-red
- hanging on smooth branches
- shiny
Gray Alder
- smooth
- greyish
- slightly hairy
Purple Alder
gray to green
Red Alder
- red to brown
- pointed
- narrow
- side buds stick out
Black Alder
The black alder is a special feature, whose buds have a very striking appearance. Their bud scales are glued together and have a reddish brown color. The protruding side buds even turn purple. What is particularly striking is the helical arrangement on the branch. Initially, the buds of the black alder are about six centimeters long. When sprouting, their length doubles.
Later flowering and cone formation
The alder buds appear quite early, long before the leaves emerge. Catkins later sprout from the buds, some of which begin to bloom at the end of February. These are either male or female, although alder has both genders. The deciduous tree is pollinated by the wind. But that's not all about the special features, because the alder is the only deciduous tree that has cones. You've probably seen the woody, black balls before. This makes it easy to distinguish the alder from other deciduous trees, especially in winter. Because the cones stay on the branches until next spring. They contain small seeds that are sometimes eaten by birds. However, the seeds rot quite quickly if they do not fall on moist soil, which is necessary for germination.
