Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Fagales>Betulaceae>Alnus serrulata (Ait.) Willd.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) leaves

Hazel Alder is common small tree or large shrub of streamsides and wetlands.

Wake Co., NC 5/30/2011.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) leaves

The simple, alternate, toothed leaves have distinctive impressed parallel veins.

Wake Co., NC 5/30/2011.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) leaves

Leaf underside, showing the prominent straight veins.

Wake Co., NC 5/30/2011.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) leaves

Pender Co., NC 4/19/09.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) leaves
Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) fruits

The fruits ripen in late fall.

Durham Co., NC 11/3/02.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) fruits

The fruiting structures persist throughout the winter, looking a bit like miniature pine cones.

Pender Co., NC 4/19/09.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) fruits

Scotland Co., NC 11/1/08.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) fruits

Scotland Co., NC 11/1/08.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) leaves

Wake Co., NC 5/30/2011.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) fruits

Carroll Co., VA 4/10/2011.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) buds

Pistillate (female) flower buds.

Carroll Co., VA 4/10/2011.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) fruits

Male catkins form in the fall.

Scotland Co., NC 11/1/08.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) flowers

Hazel Alder is one of our first trees to flower. The long male catkins are hanging down, while the reddish female flowers at the end of the branches point up.

New Hope Creek, Orange Co., NC 2/23/08.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) female flowers

Female flowers.

New Hope Creek, Orange Co., NC 2/23/08.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) male catkins

Male catkins with last year's "cones".

New Hope Creek, Orange Co., NC 2/23/08.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) male catkins

New Hope Creek, Orange Co., NC 2/23/08.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) bud scar

Bud and leaf scar detail.

New Hope Creek, Orange Co., NC 2/23/08.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) shrub

Hazel Alder is most often encountered as a large shrub growing at the water's edge.

New Hope Creek, Orange Co., NC 2/23/08.

Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) shrub

New Hope Creek, Orange Co., NC 2/23/08.

More information:
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
Missouri Plants
Trees of the Maritime Forest
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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