With glossy leaves fluttering on long petioles, this robust species is easy to spot and hear from a distance. Unusually among alders it prefers dry sites and is likely to thrive in north-west Europe under a changing climate. A neophyte in Britain and Ireland, introduced in 1820.

Native to Italy (Basilicata, Calabria and Campania) and France (Corsica), with a widespread but patchy distribution in Britain and Ireland. Most common in southern England and usually in a plantation or windbreak.

Monoecious. Wind-pollinated. Wind-dispersed. Pioneer.

Medium-tall (28m), with a narrow conical crown and fast growth. Bark dull grey-brown, fairly smooth, splitting vertically with age. Foliage shows no autumn colour and falls late. Leaves slightly heart-shaped, glossy (12cm), glabrous except tiny orange vein-axil hairs beneath, finely crenate, on long thin petioles so the tree rustles loudly. Male catkins 8-10cm; female woody cone-like. Black Alder differs: wetter ground, leathery blunt leaves, smaller cones.

A pioneer able to grow in poor, compacted soils, including sites too dry for Black Alder. It has a symbiotic root bacterium forming nodules that fix atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, improving soil fertility for neighbours. An excellent companion in establishing plantations, especially with high-value broadleaves such as the walnuts and Wild Cherry, and well suited to shelterbelts and agroforestry.

No notable associations with wildlife where introduced, but an important ecosystem engineer.

Some susceptibility to Phytophthora alni.

Timber is suitable for biomass. Possibly the dullest of all trees in terms of ornament.