Italian Alder

Italian alder (Alnus cordata) is a valuable tree in a food forest due to its ability to fix nitrogen, improving soil fertility for surrounding plants. It forms a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in its root nodules, converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that benefits other plants. This makes it an excellent companion for fruit trees and other crops that thrive in nutrient-rich soil.

Italian alder also grows quickly and is remarkably wind-hardy, ideal for windbreaks and shelterbelts for smaller plants, I've never seen a wind-shaped Italian alder...

It can also serve as a living trellis for some of the less vigorous climbing vines.