Smooth Alder is a tough and hardy shrub – or small tree – ready to grow roots into whatever moist soil conditions you give it (making them great for erosion control!) They produce yellow and red catkins in the spring, eventually developing into fruiting cones, which persist into winter. The leaves remain green throughout the growing season and serve as a larval host to many native butterflies. Smooth Alders can be kept tidy by occasional pruning, or let loose to form lovely thickets useful for songbirds and privacy fences alike.
Conditions: Full sun to part shade; moist soil; tolerates standing water, clay, and other poor soil conditions
Size: 10’-20’ tall, 8’-15’ spread
Zone: 4 - 9
Wildlife Value: Larval host for Tiger Swallowtails, Pallid Tiger Swallowtails, White Admirals, Green Commas, Luna Moths, Mourning Cloaks, as well as aphids (food for the carnivorous Harvester butterfly); goldfinches and grouse eat seeds
Photos: Samantha Nestory, David Korbonits