Red alder
Alnus rubra
Red alder is a fast-growing native tree that brings quick shade, nitrogen-fixing roots, and a lighter, more temporary canopy than long-lived oaks or maples.
Red alder often plays the role of an early or transitional tree, colonizing open ground and building soil while creating habitat along moist edges. In neighborhoods it can be useful where speed, ecological value, and a looser Northwest woodland feel matter more than long-lived ornamental form.