River Alder

About River Alder in Alberta

River alder is a native Alberta shrub or small tree of streams, lake edges, floodplains, swamps, and other moist ground. It is widespread and common through most of the province outside the Mixedgrass prairie. Its pale, lenticelled bark, doubly toothed leaves, overwintering catkins, and small woody cones make it one of Alberta's most recognizable wetland alders. For Ancient Roots Alberta, large, old, unusually broad, or ecologically intact riparian plants and thickets are the most compelling records.

Identification: River alder has alternate, oval to broadly ovate leaves, usually 4 to 10 cm long. The thin leaves are distinctly doubly serrate, with larger secondary teeth that tend to be blunt or rounded. Their lower surfaces can be nearly hairless or sparsely hairy, and the foliage often appears duller and grayer than that of green alder.

Alberta range and habitat: River alder is widespread in Alberta and is frequent in all natural regions except the Mixedgrass prairie. It is a wild native species, especially associated with wet edges and flowing or fluctuating water.