In message , Janet Baraclough
writes
The message
from June Hughes contains these words:

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?

Not for the same purpose or location as one would plant alders.
Garrya doesn't like the damp or exposed, open areas where alders thrive.
It is more of a shrub than a tree, doesn't have a particularly
attractive structure or outline, and its foliage is evergreen and dull..
A bit of a blob, so it doesn't really look good as a freestanding
specimen in a landscape, or as a group of its own kind.. Garrya isn't as
hardy as alder.

It's not a shrub you would plant a number of, as Sacha intends with the
alders, though one garrya looks good against a wall ( almost essential
in cold northern areas) or towards the back of a shrubbery. Finally,
Sacha is keen on wildlife and birds; alder is a good food source
(insects and seeds) for birds, which is probably one of the reasons they
want it. Garrya is not.

I see. So we are back with your alnus rubra. I must say, from your
description, it sounds lovely.
--
June Hughes