white alder

A walk along the Gabrielino Trail with consulting arborist Alison Lancaster reveals a wealth of information about the trees of Los Angeles, including white alders, Torrey pines and coast live oaks.

“I looked through the fence at flat dirt — a huge blank palette. The only plant was one white alder — Alnus rhombifolia — and I thought, ‘How can I do this?’

And this vast swathe of trees – over three million hectares of conifer, birch, white alder and aspen – has more than doubled in size since the 1920s.

The smooth, pale-gray bark reminds us of the beech and sets this tree apart from the white alder whose bark is brown and deeply furrowed.

The white alder at this time of year is prodigal of rich and delectable odors.