Alder Seeds | Alnus Glutinosa | 50+ seeds | Thrives in Poor/Wet soils

Please find for sale 50+ Alnus Glutinosa seeds, known as Common Alder or Black Alder. 

This is a really useful native British tree for several reasons. Firstly it thrives in poor soils and wet, boggy areas where few other trees will grow. Secondly, it is a nitrogen fixer - it has an important relationship with a nitrogen-fixing bacterium that allows it to grow in nutrient-poor soils. In return for the nitrogen stored in nodules for the use of the tree, the bacteria get sugars from their partner. So over the years, the presence of Alder trees actually increases the soil's fertility.

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Germination Guide

Alder tree seeds require cold stratification for maximum germination rates. Stratification is a process of simulating natural conditions that the seeds must experience before germination can occur (if a seed germinates in the middle of winter it will die). In the wild, seed dormancy is usually overcome by the seed spending time in the ground through a winter period and having its hard seed coat softened up by frost and weathering action. This cold, moist period triggers the seed's embryo; its growth and subsequent expansion eventually break through the softened seed coat in its search for sun and nutrients.

• Soak the seeds in water for 24 hours
• Mix seeds with a little dry sand or vermiculite
• Place in small ziplock bag
• Place in fridge for 4-6 weeks
• Spread bag contents on a tray of moist compost.
• Cover very lightly with a fine layer of sieved compost or vermiculite
• Keep in a warm place 15-25c
• Seedlings should appear after circa 25 days
• Keep moist - best to place seed tray inside a waterproof container and water from the bottom
• Pot on as required

Alternative, you can do it the natural way - sow the seeds in pots outdoors in autumn, cover with mesh to keep off birds etc then the seedlings should appear in mid spring!

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