Alnus Glutinosa - Common Alder

Alnus glutinosa, commonly known as Common Alder, is a fast-growing, medium-sized native tree widely found across Britain, particularly in wetland areas, riversides, and waterlogged soils. Highly hardy and adaptable, Alder is valued for its ability to stabilize soil, prevent erosion, and establish reliably in damp or challenging sites. Its resilience and low susceptibility to rabbit or livestock browsing make it an excellent choice for landowners, farmers, councils, and tree planting contractors aiming to create sustainable planting schemes.

Common Alder tolerates a wide range of soils and conditions, except very dry sites, making it suitable for hedges, coppicing, riparian zones, wetland restoration, and specimen planting. The glossy, ovate, dark green leaves provide summer interest, while the bark, greyish-brown and cracked into thin rectangular plates, adds winter character. Male catkins appear as a purplish haze in January, opening to dull yellow in March–April, while female catkins form woody cones that persist over winter, offering food for birds and other wildlife. Alder’s ecological and practical value, combined with its rapid establishment, makes it ideal for commercial, environmental, and conservation planting.

This is the size and type we sell: Alnus glutinosa Common Alder 20–50cm Cell Grown, Alnus glutinosa Common Alder 40–60cm 1+0, and Alnus glutinosa Common Alder 40–60cm 1+1, professionally grown bare-root or cell-grown trees suitable for hedges, coppicing, and wetland planting projects.

Features & Benefits

Native, fast-growing deciduous tree

Excellent for soil stabilization and erosion control

Tolerant of wet, waterlogged, and damp soils

Suitable for hedges, coppicing, and specimen planting

Early flowering catkins provide pollen for insects

Woody cones provide food for birds in winter

Resistant to rabbit and livestock browsing

Applications

Wetland and riverside planting

Hedging and screening

Coppice management systems

Woodland and specimen planting

Environmental restoration and conservation projects

Parks, estates, and council planting schemes

Height & Spread (Approximate)

After 10 years: 8m height x 2.5m spread

After 20 years: 9m height x 3.7m spread

Growth assumes suitable site conditions.

Botanical Name | Alnus glutinosa

Common Name | Common Alder

Plant Type | Deciduous native tree

Growth Rate | Fast

Mature Height | Up to 15m+

Mature Spread | Up to 4m

Soil Type | Damp, waterlogged, and most soils except very dry

Aspect | Full sun to partial shade

Hardiness | Fully hardy in the UK

Plant Size & Type | 20–50cm Cell Grown / 40–60cm 1+0 / 40–60cm 1+1

Maintenance | Trim hedges July–August; minimal maintenance for specimens

Wildlife Value | Early pollen for insects; cones for birds over winter