North Carolina Wildflowers

Betulaceae > Alnus

Blooming in late winter, alders produce separate male and female catkins (clusters of flowers). The male catkins are the long yellow clusters on the right. The fresh female catkins are the small reddish clusters directly above the males. The cone-like structures on the left are last year's female catkins, where the seeds were produced and released.

Clusters of male and female catkins.

Close-up of female catkins. Note also the fuzzy twigs.

Bark is gray and smooth.

Hazel Alder is common throughout North Carolina along streams and in marshy habitats.