Color/Appearance: Andean alder tends to be light tan to reddish brown; color darkens and reddens with age. There is no visible distinction between heartwood and sapwood. Large aggregate rays appear as occasional small streaks on the face grain that can be mistaken for defects in the wood.
Grain/Texture: Grain is generally straight, with a moderately fine, uniform texture.
Rot Resistance: Andean alder is rated non-durable to perishable regarding decay resistance.
Workability: Andean alder is very easy to work with both hand and machine tools; it sands especially easy. The wood is rather soft, however, and care must be taken to avoid denting it in some applications. Turns, glues, and finishes well.
Odor: No characteristic odor.
Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, species in the Alnus genus have been reported to cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Pricing/Availability: No data available.
Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern.
Common Uses: General construction, furniture, cabinetry, millwork, pallets, match sticks, and carving.
Comments: Andean alder is a fast-growing tree that’s sometimes grown on plantations. The wood is quite soft, but is still acceptably strong for light construction and utility purposes.
This species was formerly thought to be only a subspecies of Mexican alder (Alnus jorullensis)—the two trees yield very comparable lumber. Andean alder one of the only Alnus species that’s found in the Southern Hemisphere (most notably, as the common name suggests, in the Andes Mountains).