Photograph coming soon
Alnus glutinosa
Standard Trees
Alnus glutinosa
Common alder
Our native alder thrives in wet ground, with dark green leaves, catkins in late winter and small cones that feed birds.
Native and excellent for wildlife
Thrives in wet and waterlogged soils
Catkins in late winter
Small cones loved by siskins and goldfinches
Please check before you visit. Our nursery is very well stocked, but what we hold changes with the seasons, so this plant may not always be in stock. Enquire before you head over and we will check availability and the sizes we have for you.
At a glance
Type
Standard tree
Foliage
Deciduous
Seasons of interest
Late winter catkins, cones
Eventual size
Typically 15 to 20 m tall
Position
Full sun or partial shade
Soil
Moist to wet soils
Hardiness
Fully hardy in the UK
Available
A range of girth sizes, root-balled in season or container-grown. Ask our team for current specimens and pricing.
Why we love it
Common alder is the classic waterside tree, happy with its roots in damp ground where few others thrive.
It fixes nitrogen in the soil and supports a wide range of wildlife.
How to use it
Ideal for riverbanks, ponds, wet areas and native planting schemes.
Planting and aftercare
Plant between autumn and spring, stake securely and water well through the first two summers. Prune in winter while dormant to remove crossing or damaged branches and keep a balanced crown.
See it in person
Every plant at Form is hand-selected, none contains new peat, and nothing beats choosing yours by eye. Visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey, just 30 minutes from London, where our team will show you the best of what is on the nursery right now. We deliver across London, Surrey and the Home Counties, and nationwide.
Walk in any time during opening hours and you will be looked after. If you would like dedicated time with a specialist, book a Genus Bar appointment.
Frequently asked questions
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Yes, common alder is one of the best trees for wet and waterlogged ground.
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We keep a very well-stocked nursery, but our stock changes with the seasons, so availability varies. Please email us before you visit and we will check what we have and the sizes available.
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Standard trees are sold by girth, the circumference of the stem 1 m above ground. A 12–14 cm heavy standard is a popular size for gardens, while larger semi-mature trees give instant impact. See our guide to tree sizes and specifications.
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Yes, and we encourage it. Visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey, or book a Genus Bar appointment with one of our specialists. We can also send photographs of individual trees.
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Yes, we deliver nationwide with our own in-house team, and larger trees can be offloaded by HI-AB or Moffett.
All our standard trees
Explore every tree in our standard trees collection, or view them all with photographs →
Can’t see what you’re looking for?
Get in touch and we’ll help you find it. Our nursery is very well stocked and we can source almost any plant through our network of trusted growers. Email info@formplants.com, or send us your whole plant list through our bespoke sourcing service.