FNPS Plant Database

Alnus serrulata

hazel alder, smooth alder
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

hazel alder, smooth alder

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Alnus serrulata

Family:

Betulaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

Shrub

Size:

5–30 ft tall by 5–10 ft wide

Life Span:

long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Deciduous

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Bark

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Informal specimen plant or could be used as a mass planting or hedge in moist areas. It is usually a multi-stemmed tall shrub.

Considerations:

None.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Friends

Propagation:

From seed or division.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Aquatic -to- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding

Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Organic

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A, 8B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

The Harvester butterfly ( Feniseca tarquinius ) is the only carnivorous butterfly in North America and includes the Wooly Alder Aphid in its prey species.

Browsed by deer.

Native Habitats:

Open, wet hammocks and pond margins

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

It forms root nodules with a symbiont anaerobic, filamentous bacteria (Frankia) to fix its own nitrogen, allowing it to grow well in poor or sterile soil. Its persistent fruit looks like a very small pine cone.
FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Minno, M., J. Butler, and D. Hall. (2005). Florida Butterfly Caterpillars and Their Host Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Stibolt, Ginny. (2026). Alders Fix Nitrogen. ( https://greengardeningmatters.blogspot.com/2026/02/alders-fix-nitrogen.html ). Accessed 2026.

Wunderlin, R. P, B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

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