Sitka alder
Alnus sinuata
Last reviewed: October 2026
Sitka alder (Alnus sinuata) is a perennial shrub native to CA, CO, ID, MT and 3 more states. It blooms in April and May. The flowers draw bees.
Toxicity unknown
Sitka alder (Alnus sinuata) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
high
Size
120"–360" H × 96"–240" W
Bloom
Apr, May
Native to
CA, CO, ID, MT and 3 more states
Pollinators
bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Browse plants for this ecoregion
Fast-growing, multi-stemmed shrub with rounded toothed leaves and drooping catkins in spring, forming dense thickets along streambanks, avalanche chutes, and other disturbed moist sites at higher elevations.
Growing Sitka alder
Grow Sitka alder in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 120 to 360 inches tall and spread 96 to 240 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Nitrogen-fixing roots improve soil for other plants, and dense thickets provide cover and nesting habitat for birds.
Common questions
- How much sun does Sitka alder need?
- Sitka alder grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Sitka alder bloom?
- Sitka alder blooms in April and May.
- Where is Sitka alder native?
- Sitka alder (Alnus sinuata) is native to CA, CO, ID, MT and 3 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Sitka alder attract?
- Sitka alder draws bees.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Sitka alder? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.