Alnus glutinosa – Common Alder

  The common Alder is native to a wide range of Europe including the British Isles and Ireland but are not found in the Northernmost regions of Europe. Alder is common in wetlands and can grow at altitudes up to 700m. When left alone Alders form a grand domed canopy however they are commonly coppiced so in many places they are more conical than domed and have long, multi-stemmed boles for use as timber.

  Its bark is brown and deeply fissured in square and oblong plates. Its twigs are smooth apart from when young they have a slightly sticky feel. Alder leaves are stalked and noticeably round with a slightly notched apex and a wavy or bluntly toothed margin.

  In the winter, purple catkins can be seen on the tree in groups of 2 and 3, up to 3cm long, which can be an appealing aesthetic. By the end of winter these catkins open up and reveal yellow anthers. Female catkins are smaller and are reddish purple, turning green, growing in the summer and persisting through the winter. Alders seeds float on water making the dispersal and natural spread of the tree more effective.