Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Alnus hirsuta

Manchurian Alder · Siberian Alder

Family BetulaceaeGenus Alnus

Spreading branches carrying broad rounded doubly toothed leaves against a pale sky, over a garden
LeafØystein Hellesøe BrekkeCC BY 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Height
30-60 ft9-18 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
20-30 ft6.1-9.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Purple/LavenderExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Amur, Buryatiya, Chita, Inner Mongolia, Japan, Kamchatka and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-7Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • This alder of north-east Asia is closely related to the gray alder, Alnus incana, and has sometimes been treated as a subspecies of it, because the two hybridize freely when grown together. It has larger leaves and seed catkins. Wikipedia: Alnus hirsuta

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Up in May and June.

about 6 months from start to sowing.

11% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 2 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Alnus p. 18Public domain
Show the original text
Alnus (Betulaceae). All samples were received in March, and had already undergone at least 6 m of DS and probably more. Since DS was clearly detrimental in A. hirsuta v. hirsuta (DS 6 m) germ. 70L(6% in 3rd w), 70 GA-3(5% in 2nd w), 70D(1 %)-40-70D(4% in 2nd w), 40-70D-40-70D(none), and 11% in May and June in OT. Seeds DS 1 y gave about the same results in 70L.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Alnus p. 18. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

6% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Alnus p. 18Public domain
Show the original text
Alnus (Betulaceae). All samples were received in March, and had already undergone at least 6 m of DS and probably more. Since DS was clearly detrimental in A. hirsuta v. hirsuta (DS 6 m) germ. 70L(6% in 3rd w), 70 GA-3(5% in 2nd w), 70D(1 %)-40-70D(4% in 2nd w), 40-70D-40-70D(none), and 11% in May and June in OT. Seeds DS 1 y gave about the same results in 70L.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Alnus p. 18. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 23, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Gibberellic acid soak

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

5% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Alnus p. 18Public domain
Show the original text
Alnus (Betulaceae). All samples were received in March, and had already undergone at least 6 m of DS and probably more. Since DS was clearly detrimental in A. hirsuta v. hirsuta (DS 6 m) germ. 70L(6% in 3rd w), 70 GA-3(5% in 2nd w), 70D(1 %)-40-70D(4% in 2nd w), 40-70D-40-70D(none), and 11% in May and June in OT. Seeds DS 1 y gave about the same results in 70L.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Alnus p. 18. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 28, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 27, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    1 germinated in this phase.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 12 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 14 days.

4% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Alnus p. 18Public domain
Show the original text
Alnus (Betulaceae). All samples were received in March, and had already undergone at least 6 m of DS and probably more. Since DS was clearly detrimental in A. hirsuta v. hirsuta (DS 6 m) germ. 70L(6% in 3rd w), 70 GA-3(5% in 2nd w), 70D(1 %)-40-70D(4% in 2nd w), 40-70D-40-70D(none), and 11% in May and June in OT. Seeds DS 1 y gave about the same results in 70L.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Alnus p. 18. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page