"June Hughes" wrote in message
...
In message , Janet Baraclough
writes
The message
from Sacha contains these words:

In the experience of members of urg, which is the Alder with the longest
catkins? We want to plant a small number but I do most particularly
want
the nice, long, catkin type.

My favourite is red alder, alnus rubra. The male catkins are about 5"
long when fully extended and very prolific. Just before reaching full
stretch they are very rosy red, the whole tree glows and is a wonderful
sight in late winter. The cones are a good size too. I used to pick
twigs of both for the house.

Plant them bare -root and cheap at 2 or 3 ft and juvenile trees will
grow at least that much again per year, making a good sized flowering
trees very fast. At the last garden I had two little copses of 7 or so
and loved them. The ones with yellowy/green catkins are less attractive
imo.

Garrya elliptica isn't an Alder.

But it is a 'nice, long catkin type', so surely it would suit?
--
June Hughes

Granted it has catkins but that's where the similarity finishes. Garrya
elliptica and Alder are totally different in habit , colour, growth rate and
cultural requirements.