Alder Trees Facts and Information

  • Latin Name: Alnus glutinosa
  • Native Words: Old Irish (fearn), Scots Gaelic (fearna), Old English (alor), Welsh (gwernen), Eastern Celtic (werneth)
  • Ogham Sign: F
  • Height when Mature: 16–30m
  • Height after 10 Years: 1–2m
Close-up of Alder tree leaves and cones
Alder Tree Leaves and Cones

Alder Tree Botanical Description

Recognisable for its purple sheen in spring, alder trees are one of our smaller native tree species. They have a light, delicate appearance, with grey bark flecked with white.

The leaves are round and toothed. Alder is the only British native deciduous tree to develop cones. These small cones contain seeds spread by wind or water, often germinating downstream.

Throughout winter, empty cones hang on the branches. From January to March, pale green male catkins emerge before the leaves, dangling in the wind. Female catkins are small, round, and purple at first—turning brown as they develop into cones.

Alder Tree Natural History and Ancient Wisdom

Alder is almost always found near water. In both upland and lowland Britain, especially in the west, it dominates streamsides, riversides, and boggy areas, forming wet woodlands known as alder carr.

Its water-resistant wood made alder ideal for specialist tasks like clog-making—especially in damp areas of Lancashire and Yorkshire. Managed coppicing of streamside alders provided rods for bank reinforcement, a practice now largely abandoned.

In Welsh legend, alder was associated with the goddess Bran; in Ireland, the tree was believed to bleed red when cut—linking it to death and the spirit world. Alder rods were once used to measure corpses and graves.

According to Norse mythology, the first woman was made from alder (and the first man from ash).

Historically, alder bark was used as a purgative in folk medicine. An 1800 herbal claims: “the country people use it in intermittent fevers... it purges and vomits them vigorously and carries off the disease.”

Alder Tree growing next to water

Alder Place Names in the UK

Alder is associated with waterlogged areas, reflected in many place names:

  • Alrewas (Staffordshire) – "alder wash"
  • Alderwasley (Derbyshire)
  • Allerwash (Northumberland)
  • Werneth Low (Cheshire) – "low point where alder grows"
  • Alderford (Norfolk) – "ford where alders grow"
  • Aldreth (Cambridgeshire) – "landing place where alders grow"
  • Aller (Dorset) – "alder"

Alder Tree Wildlife Rating

High. Alder supports early-season pollinators and winter birds.

The catkins provide an early source of pollen and nectar for bees and pollinating insects.

In winter, Siskins and Redpolls—two small and rarely seen finches—feed on alder seeds inside the miniature cones.

Alder Tree Good Points

  • Excellent for very damp areas such as lakesides or marshy gardens.
  • Light canopy allows other plants to grow beneath.
  • Improves soil by fixing nitrogen from the air.

Alder Tree Bad Points

  • Vulnerable to drought and prolonged dry conditions if roots are not in water.

Looking to Buy an Alder Tree?

At Tree2mydoor, we specialise in tree and plant gifts. While we don’t currently stock alder, our Silver Birch Tree Gift is a great alternative. It has a similar habit and delicate foliage, and is better suited to a wider range of conditions.

Want more ideas? Explore our Ancient Wisdom Trees collection for meaningful tree gifts ideal for gardens across the UK.

For bulk orders or corporate gifts, contact us at care@tree2mydoor.com and we’ll be happy to help organise your sapling project.