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Native Plant Society of Texas

Smooth Alder

Alnus serrulata

Other common name(s):

Hazel Alder, Brookside Alder, Tag Alder, Common Alder, Black Alder

Family:

Betulaceae (Alder Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

12
to
20
ft.

Spread

5
to
10
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Loam, Moist, Mud, Poor Drainage, Sand

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

High

Native Habitat

Grassland, Riparian, Wetland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Brown, Green, Red

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Fall Color, Flowers, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Birds

Maintenance

Physiological problems are rare, however the wood is weak and breakage is common. Very flood tolerant. Needs constantly moist soil with a pH of 6.8-7.2. Prune during late winter or early spring before the onset of the new growth cycle. Alders fix nitrogen and thus serve as nutrient-giving pioneers in reclamation projects. Tends to clone itself through suckers, forming a dense thicket if left unchecked. Foliage turns an attractive yellow, tinged with red, in fall. Native habitat: stream banks, bogs, swamp borders, wet meadows.

Description

Blooms March-April. A multiple-trunked, suckering shrub with shiny gray-brown bark. Male flowers green-brown, female flowers are reddish; both on the same plant clustered on catkins. The species name serrulata refers to the margins of the leaves, which are toothed. The fruit is a brown cone-like catkin 1/2 inch long.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Alnus incana var. serrulata, Alnus noveboracensis, Alnus serrulata var. subelliptica

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed Scarification, Stratification Once the cones are fully dried, gently rub or shake them to release the tiny, winged seeds. These seeds need a period of cold stratification to break dormancy. This simply means mimicking winter conditions. Place the seeds in a zip-lock bag filled with slightly damp, sterile planting mix. Store the bag in a refrigerator for 8-12 weeks. After stratification, the seeds are ready to be sown. Choose a well-draining seed starting mix and fill a seed tray or small pots with the mix. Sow the seeds on the surface of the soil and lightly cover them with a thin layer of compost. Water gently. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. With proper conditions, germination should occur within a couple of weeks. Once seedlings have a few true leaves, they can be transplanted into individual pots to grow on. In late summer or early fall, look for the small, cone-like structures that contain the seeds. These cones turn brown and release their seeds as they mature. Collect the cones and dry them in a warm, well-ventilated area. 1) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-alnus-serrulata/ 2) https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/lppi/sp026.shtml#:~:text=Propagation%20by%20Seed,harvest%2C%20but%20stratification%20improves%20germination.
Hardwood Cutting Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting and dip the bottom end in a root hormone solution. Prepare a rooting medium like a peat moss/perlite mix. Fill small pots or trays with this mixture. Make a hole with a pencil in the center of each pot and insert the cutting. Keep the cuttings moist and in a warm but shady location. A humidity dome or plastic wrap can help maintain moisture levels. Over time, roots will develop, and you can start hardening off the new plants before transplanting them outdoors. In the fall after the leaves have dropped, select mature branches that are about a pencil-thick. Take 6-8-inch cuttings from these branches, making sure to include a leaf bud at the top of the cutting. 1) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-alnus-serrulata/ 2) https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Alnus+serrulata

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason