Also known as Alder · Aller-Tree · Alls-Bush
Alnus glutinosa, the Common Alder, is a fast-growing deciduous tree thriving in wet soils. It features dark green leaves, catkins in spring, and small, cone-like fruits.
At-a-glance light, water, soil, and growing conditions from plant data
Full Sun to Partial Shade
70% intensity
At least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily
High
80% intensity
Consistently moist to wet soil
Moist to wet, well-drained, acidic to neutral soils; tolerates heavy clay.
50% intensity
Temperate
70% intensity
Tolerates a wide range, -20°C to 30°C
Outdoor
50% intensity
Low
20% intensity
Generally not needed for established trees due to nitrogen fixation
Safety information from plant toxicity data
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Toxic for humans | No 0/5 intensity |
| Toxic for pets | No 0/5 intensity |
| Edible | No |
Generally considered non-toxic to humans and pets.
Key traits and growing stats from plant data
Watering, pruning, propagation, and repotting details from plant data
Common Alder thrives in consistently moist to wet soil conditions, making it suitable for riparian zones or areas with high water tables.
Young trees require regular watering to establish a strong root system, especially during dry spells.
Mature trees are quite tolerant once established but will benefit from supplemental watering during prolonged droughts to maintain vigor. Avoid allowing the soil to dry out completely.
Pruning Common Alder primarily involves removing dead, diseased, or damaged branches to maintain tree health and structure. Light shaping can also be done.
The ideal time for pruning is late summer or early autumn to minimize sap bleeding, as alders are prone to heavy bleeding if cut in late winter or early spring.
Avoid extensive or heavy pruning, especially on mature specimens, as this can cause significant stress to the tree.
Common Alder can be successfully propagated through several methods. Seeds are a common approach, requiring stratification before sowing in autumn or early spring.
Softwood cuttings taken in early summer can root well with appropriate hormone treatment and humidity. Hardwood cuttings are another option, typically taken in late autumn or winter.
Layering, where a branch is encouraged to root while still attached to the parent plant, is also a viable and often successful technique for propagation.
Repotting is generally not applicable for mature Common Alder trees, as they are large, permanent landscape specimens. However, young saplings grown in containers for eventual transplanting will require repotting.
They should be moved to progressively larger pots as their root system expands, typically every 1-2 years.
Ensure the new pot has adequate drainage and use a suitable, well-draining potting mix to support healthy root development until they are ready for planting in the ground.
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Monthly activity intensity for bloom and fruit across both hemispheres.
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Photos of Common Alder (Alnus glutinosa)
Common names and botanical synonyms
Botanical classification
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Fagales |
| Family | Betulaceae |
| Genus | Alnus |
| Species | Alnus glutinosa |
Similar in genus Alnus
Answers based on plant encyclopedia data
