Stika Alder
Other Names: Mountain Alder
Family: Betulaceae
Native to: Eastern North America, Interior North America, Western North America
Eco benefits: erosion control, attracts birds, valuable wood, medicinal, improves soil
Natural habitat: swamps & bogs, barren or disturbed ground, waters edge, rocky slopes, forest edge
Height: 10-15ft
Tolerances: soil compaction
Light: full sun, partial shade, full shade
Soil: tolerates wet feet
Stika Alder is a short-lived pioneer species shrub to small tree often forming thickets in disturbed areas. It naturally lives in moist areas by water, in clearings, or on mountain slopes. The leaves are shinny with a distinctive yellowish-brown to gray bark, often patched with lichen. root nodules containing beneficial bacterial make it nitrogen fixing and good for soil conditioning. The fragrant wood is very suitable for firewood and smoking salmon.
