Red alder — often disparaged as the weed of trees — is one of the Northwest’s most unappreciated native trees. However, the red alder provides a critically important function in the balance of our native forest ecosystem.

In ecological terms it is a “pioneer species,” meaning it is one of the first plants to re-colonize after any land clearing, whether manmade or natural. It is a nitrogen-fixing plant, like legumes; bacteria in its root nodules transform atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable to all the plants. Consequently, alder stands are very high in nitrogen, a mineral in short supply in our conifer-dominated acidic soil.

The most observant naturalists will notice that the forest floor is covered with alder seeds during this season as the winds have shaken them from their pods. This coincides with the increasing songbird activity in the forest as they noisily enjoy the copious amounts of fallen native seeds.

Foragers enjoy nibbling the red alder’s spring flowers — called catkins — for their floral flavor and high protein content. The catkins are best when still tightly packed and can be ground and mixed with flour in baked goods. Although many people are allergic to alder pollen, fresh or freeze-dried nettle tea can help alleviate the symptoms.

Alder bark was highly valued by Northwest Coast natives for its medicinal properties. A decoction of the bark was used to treat tuberculosis and other respiratory ailments and is credited with saving many lives. It was also used as a tonic and an antibiotic as well as a wash for skin infections and wounds. Native Americans burned alder to smoke fish and carved it to make feast bowls, masks, rattles and many other decorative and useful items. Its bark was used to make a red or orange dye. The inner bark is nutritious and was eaten in the spring.

Red alder is mildly heating, and putting the leaves inside your boots while hiking can alleviate sore feet. The dried leaves can also be made into a decoction — that’s where the leaves are boiled as opposed to steeped — and drunk four times a day to help tonify the small intestine lining, increasing food absorption.

It is important to remember that all of our native plants are important to the health of our Northwest forests. Without the “lowly” alder and it nitrogen-fixing ability, many of our non-acid loving native plants would simply not be able to thrive.

— Erin Kenny is an ethnobotanist and the executive director of the non-profit Cedarsong Nature School.