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.