Quercus

European Alder

Alnus glutinosa

Not native to Kentucky

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  • Sugarberry
    Celtis laevigata

    Similar height, evergreen or deciduous, bloom season

  • Pagoda Dog Wood
    Cornus alternifolia

    Similar growth form, spread, evergreen or deciduous

  • Downy Serviceberry
    Amelanchier arborea

    Similar height, evergreen or deciduous, bloom season

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Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

166CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including KY

Genus host records with ranges including KY · Alnus

  • Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
  • Achatodes zeaeElder Shoot Border Moth, Spindele Worm, Cornstalk Borer
  • Acleris semiannulaHalf-Ringed Acleris
  • Acrobasis rubrifasciellaAlder Tubemaker Moth
  • Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
  • Acronicta fragilisFragile Dagger
  • Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
  • Acronicta hastuliferaFrosted Dagger, Hoary Alder Dagger
  • Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
  • Acronicta impressaImpressive Dagger, Printed Dagger
Show all 166
  • Acronicta innotataUnmarked Dagger
  • Acronicta longaLong-Winged Dagger, Darkish Dagger
  • Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
  • Actias lunaLuna Moth
  • Aethalura intertextaFour-Barred Gray
  • Agonopterix argillaceaClay-Colored Agonopterix
  • Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
  • Amorpha juglandisWalnut Sphinx
  • Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
  • Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
  • Antepione thisoariaVariable Antepione
  • Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
  • Apamea amputatrixYellow-Headed Cutworm Moth
  • Apatelodes torrefactaSpotted Apatelodes
  • Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
  • Arctia parthenosSt. Lawrence Tiger Moth
  • Argyrotaenia marianaGray-Banded Leafroller Moth
  • Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
  • Autographa amplaLarge Looper Moth, Broken-Banded Y, Climbing Looper
  • Baileya doubledayiDoubleday's Baileya
  • Baileya ophthalmicaEyed Baileya
  • Besma endropiariaStraw Besma
  • Besma quercivorariaOak Besma
  • Bibarrambla allenellaBog Bibarrambla
  • Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
  • Campaea perlataPale Beauty, Fringed Looper
  • Cecrita biundataWavy-Lined Heterocampa
  • Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
  • Cenopis reticulatanaReticulated Fruitworm Moth
  • Choristoneura conflictanaLarge Aspen Tortrix
  • Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
  • Cladara atroliturataThe Scribbler
  • Clepsis melaleucanusBlack-Patched Clepsis, Trillium Tortrix
  • Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
  • Clostera inclusaAngle-Lined Prominent, Poplar Tent Maker, Poplar Leaf-Tier
  • Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
  • Coleophora multipulvellaApple Pistol Casebearer, Pistol Casebearer Moth
  • Coleophora pruniellaCherry Casebearer, Apple Leafmining Casebearer, Western Cigar Casebearer
  • Colocasia flavicornisYellowhorn, Saddled Yellowhorn
  • Cucullia intermediaIntermediate Cucullia, Goldenrod Cutworm, Dashed Paint, Intermediate Hooded Owlet Moth
  • Cyclophora pendulinariaSweetfern Geometer
  • Dasychira vagansVariable Tussock Moth
  • Derrima stellataPink Star
  • Drepana arcuataArched Hooktip, Masked Birch Caterpillar
  • Dysstroma truncataMarbled Carpet
  • Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
  • Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
  • Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
  • Ennomos subsignariaElm Spanworm Moth
  • Episimus argutanaSumac Leaftier
  • Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
  • Estigmene acreaSalt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth
  • Euchlaena marginariaOchre Euchlaena
  • Euchlaena tigrinariaMotted Euchlaena
  • Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
  • Eulia ministranaFerruginous Eulia
  • Eupithecia columbiataColumbia Pug
  • Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
  • Euplexia benesimilisAmerican Angle Shades
  • Eupsilia tristigmataThree-Spotted Sallow, Brown Fruitworm
  • Evora hemidesmaSpirea Leaftier
  • Feniseca tarquiniusHarvester
  • Fishia illocataWandering Brocade
  • Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
  • Herpetogramma pertextalisBold-Feathered Grass Moth
  • Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
  • Hydriomena pluviataSharp Green Hydriomena
  • Hydriomena renunciataRenounced Hydriomena
  • Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
  • Hypena eductalisRed-Footed Bomolocha, Red-footed Snout
  • Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
  • Hyppa xylinoidesCommon Hyppa
  • Iridopsis larvariaBent-Line Gray
  • Lacanobia grandisGrand Arches
  • Lacanobia subjunctaSpeckled Arches, Subdues Arches, Harnessed Mamestra, Speckled Cutworm Moth, Grand Arches?(incorrectly)
  • Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
  • Limenitis arthemisBanded Purple, Red-Spotted Admiral
  • Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
  • Lithophane baileyiBailey's Pinion
  • Lithophane innominataNameless Pinion
  • Lithophane petulcaWanton Pinion
  • Lobophora nivigerataPowdered Bigwing, Two-Lined Aspen Looper
  • Lomographa semiclarataBluish Spring Moth, Wildcherry Looper
  • Lophocampa caryaeHickory Tussock Moth, Hickory Tiger Moth
  • Lophocampa maculataSpotted Tussock Moth, Yellow-Spotted Tiger Moth
  • Lycia ypsilonWoolly Gray
  • Lycophotia phyllophoraBrick Dart, Leafy Dart
  • Macaria ulsterataBirch Angle, Peacock Moth
  • Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
  • Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
  • Melanchra adjunctaHitched Arches
  • Melanchra assimilisBlack Arches
  • Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
  • Melanolophia signatariaSignate Melanolphia
  • Mesoleuca ruficillataWhite-Ribboned Carpet, Red-fringed Carpet
  • Metarranthis duariaRuddy Metarranthis
  • Morrisonia latexFluid Arches, Fluid Mamestra
  • Nadata gibbosaWhite-Dotted Prominent
  • Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
  • Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
  • Nemoria rubrifrontariaRed-Fronted Emerald
  • Nola clethraeSweet Pepperbush Nola
  • Nymphalis antiopaMourning Cloak
  • Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
  • Oedemasia semirufescensRed-Washed Prominent
  • Olethreutes appendiceumServiceberry Leafroller
  • Operophtera bruceataBruce Spanworm
  • Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
  • Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
  • Orthosia revictaSubdued Quaker
  • Orthosia rubescensRuby Quaker
  • Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
  • Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
  • Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
  • Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
  • Paranthrene asilipennisOak Stump Borer Moth, Oak Borer
  • Pero ancetariaHubner's Pero
  • Pero morrisonariaMorrison's Pero
  • Phlogophora irisOlive Angle Shades
  • Phlogophora periculosaBrown Angle Shades
  • Phyllodesma americanaLappet Moth, American Lappet Moth, Southern Lappet Moth
  • Phyllonorycter auronitensAlder Leafminer
  • Plagodis alcoolariaHollow-Spotted Plagodis
  • Plagodis phlogosariaStraight-Lined Plagodis
  • Plagodis pulverariaAmerican Barred Umber, Barred Umber
  • Pococera aplastellaAspen Webworm Moth
  • Polia imbriferaCloudy Arches
  • Polia nimbosaStormy Arches
  • Probole alienariaDogwood Probole, Alien Probole
  • Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
  • Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
  • Protitame virginalisVirgin Moth
  • Pseudothyatira cymatophoroidesTufted Thyatirid
  • Pyrrhia ciliscaAmerican Bordered Sallow, Noble Sun Moth
  • Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
  • Selenia alcipheariaNorthern Selenia, Northern Thorn
  • Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
  • Spiramater lutraDarling Mamestra, Splashed Arches, Otter Spiramater, Otter Arches
  • Syndemis afflictanaFall Dead-Leaf Roller, Gray Leafroller, Black-and-Grey Banded Leafroller
  • Tetracis cachexiataWhite Slant-Line
  • Tetracis crocallataYellow Slant-Line
  • Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
  • Tortricidia testaceaEarly Button Slug
  • Venusia comptariaBrown-Shaded Carpet
  • Xanthotype urticariaFalse Crocus Geometer
  • Xestia smithiiSmith's Dart
  • Zale minereaColorful Zale
  • Acleris cervinana
  • Acleris placidana
  • Anania extricalis
  • Bucculatrix locuples
  • Caloptilia glutinella
  • Gretchena watchungana
  • Olethreutes brunneopurpurata
  • Olethreutes concinnana
  • Stigmella corylifoliella
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
5BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Alnus

  • Acanthis flammeaCommon Redpoll
  • Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
  • Lagopus leucuraWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
  • Lagopus mutaRock Ptarmigan
  • Oreortyx pictusMountain Quail
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Betulaceae
Hardiness
Zones 4a–7b
Soil pH
Acidic to neutral
Flower color
Brown/copper or red
Growth rate
Rapid
Growth habit
Several stems
Foliage color
Green
Fruit begins
Summer
Fruit ends
Fall

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Black Alder; European Alder

Conservation status

Kentucky rankSNA
Global rankGNR
KY statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources