Midsummer Snow: Japanese Alder Blooms with Delicate White Flowers at Cheollipo Arboretum

In the sweltering heat of a Korean summer, a unique tree is offering a surprising spectacle of delicate white blooms: the Japanese Alder (Alnus japonica) at the Cheollipo Arboretum.

Often mistaken for a common alder due to its leaf shape, the Japanese Alder is botanically distinct. Its name, 'Maehwa-ollina-mu' in Korean, hints at its unique characteristics. The flowers, blooming in mid-July, are said to resemble plum blossoms, while its leaves share similarities with those of the alder. This resemblance, however, is purely superficial as it belongs to its own genus and is unrelated to either plum or alder trees.

The tree's inflorescence, a raceme, resembles a decorative feather or a cascade of mid-summer snow. Each raceme can reach about 15 centimeters, with numerous flower stalks emerging from the main stem. Small, white flowers, about 5 millimeters in diameter, bloom sequentially along the stalk, creating a lace-like effect.

Introduced from Japan in 1990, the specimen at Cheollipo Arboretum is a relatively small tree, standing about 3 meters tall, nestled between larger American Red Maples and Sourwoods. Its relative, the fragrant Japanese Alder 'Rosea,' also grows nearby, distinguished by its pink flowers and upward-facing blooms.

Beyond its summer beauty, the Japanese Alder offers a vibrant display in autumn as its leaves turn a deep orange. Its unique charm has earned it recognition from the Royal Horticultural Society. Also known as 'Sweet Pepper Bush' for its peppercorn-like fruit and 'Summer Sweet' for its fragrant mid-summer blossoms, this tree transforms the perception of summer from a harsh season to a sweet one.