Grey alder

Alnus incana
Grey alder
Photo: Jens-Christian Svenning, CC BY, iNaturalist
Grey alder
Photo: Igor Balashov, CC BY, iNaturalist
Grey alder
Photo: Nikanos, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons

About

Grey alder is a tree of mountain river valleys. In Ukraine, it occurs in Transcarpathia, in the Carpathians, and in Prykarpattia, as well as in Polissia. In Central Europe, grey alder inhabits deposits along mountain rivers and streams, rising to an altitude of about 1500 m. It grows in swampy forest edges, near wetlands and riverbanks, and often forms dense thickets of small trees and shrubs — these strips are most commonly seen along Carpathian streams.

This small tree or shrub reaches a height of 5–15 m, with smooth grey bark even in old age; it has a short lifespan of up to 60–100 years. Grey alder can be easily distinguished from black alder: its buds and shoots are not sticky, and its leaves are ovate, pointed, with a doubly serrated edge, greyish and hairy underneath, measuring 5–11 cm in length. The seeds are small, 1–2 mm, with a narrow wing. Grey alder flowers in March–April with catkins, and small cones ripen in September–October.

Grey alder is light-loving and quickly colonizes free spaces. In the Polish Bieszczady and Low Beskids, after World War II, it covered about 30,000 hectares of abandoned fields and pastures in a short time.

Grey alder is not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, however, four rare grey alder communities of the Carpathians with an undergrowth of Carpathian lilac are included in the Green Book of Ukraine.

Where in the Carpathians

fewermore2 445 records in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries
Slovakia · Czechia · Poland · Ukraine · Romania
Mountain ranges
High Tatras, Greater Fatra, Slovak Ore Mountains, Low Tatras, Moravian-Silesian Beskids, Żywiec Beskids, Western Tatras, Volovec Mountains, Lesser Fatra, Spiš Magura
Altitude belts
Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Fruit

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine; rare grey alder communities of the Carpathians are in the Green Book of Ukraine.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

FAQ

How to distinguish grey alder from black alder?

Grey alder has non-sticky buds and shoots, pointed leaves that are greyish and hairy underneath, and smooth bark even in old trees. Black alder has blunt, sticky leaves, and dark, cracked bark.

Where do grey alders grow in the Carpathians?

Most often along mountain rivers and streams, in moist forest edges, as well as in abandoned meadows and fields.

Similar species

Green alderGreen alderAlnus alnobetulaCreeping shrub of the subalpine zone. Together with juniper, it forms krivolissya above the tree line, but prefers wetter and shadier slopes.
Silver birchSilver birchBetula pendulaSilver birch with drooping branches. In the Carpathians, it is the first to colonize clearings, burnt areas, and abandoned meadows.
European ashEuropean ashFraxinus excelsiorA tall tree with a lacy crown and black buds. It grows in the deciduous forests and valleys of the Carpathians; in Europe, it is threatened by a fungal disease.

Where to meet it

Trails

Bystrets village – Psarivka polonyna – Mount KostrychModerateTwo-dayMarkedBystrets village Mount Kostrychvia Psarivka polonynaElevation profile816–1 516 m15 kmascent 732 m≈ 5 h walkingMount Chyvchyn, via the Pnivie ridge, the Vatunarka ridge and Mount Baba-Liudova to Stovpni Horishni villageHardMulti-dayMount Chyvchyn to Stovpni Horishni villagevia the Pnivie ridge, the Vatunarka ridge +1Elevation profile975–1 540 m32.5 kmascent 1 323 m≈ 11 h walkingIltsi village – Vesnarka polonynaModerateOne-dayIltsi village Vesnarka polonynaElevation profile636–1 262 m9.8 kmascent 656 m≈ 4 h walkingProbiinivka village, via Mount Tarnytsia, Mount Pnivie and Mount Chyvchyn to Shybene villageHardMulti-dayProbiinivka village to Shybene villagevia Mount Tarnytsia, Mount Pnivie +1Elevation profile797–1 766 m68.4 kmascent 2 793 mNo. 5047 «Settlements», Zavadka villageEasyOne-dayMarkedNo. 5047 «Settlements», Zavadka villageElevation profile643–673 m2.9 kmascent 3 m≈ 45 min walkingKosmach village, via Mount Rotylo, Mount Hrehit and Mount Bila Kobyla to Bukovets villageHardMulti-dayKosmach village to Bukovets villagevia Mount Rotylo, Mount Hrehit +1Elevation profile615–1 474 m40.2 kmascent 2 290 m
Mount Dovbushanka – Polianytsia villageModerateOne-dayMount Dovbushanka Polianytsia villageElevation profile900–1 703 m12.2 kmascent 250 m≈ 3.5 h walkingBystrets turn-off – Chufrova polonynaModerateOne-dayMarkedBystrets turn-off Chufrova polonynaElevation profile697–1 386 m9.4 kmascent 876 m≈ 4 h walkingBukovel: «Parkovyi» trailEasyOne-dayMarkedBukovel: «Parkovyi» trailElevation profile901–1 168 m3.1 kmascent 232 m≈ 1 h walkingPolianytsia village – Mount Dovbushanka – Polianytsia villageHardTwo-dayPolianytsia village loopvia Mount DovbushankaElevation profile894–1 754 m22.3 kmascent 1 419 m≈ 8.5 h walkingBystrets village – Hadzhyna polonynaEasyOne-dayBystrets village Hadzhyna polonynaElevation profile778–1 219 m7.9 kmascent 440 m≈ 3 h walkingPolianytsia village – Mount DovbushankaModerateOne-dayPolianytsia village Mount DovbushankaElevation profile887–1 754 m13.4 kmascent 1 061 m≈ 5.5 h walking

Peaks and meadows

Polonyna Psarivka, BystretsMountain meadowPolonyna Psarivka, BystretsVerkhovynaUkrainians, for example, call such meadows polonyny. Today we will talk about the Psarivka meadow.Polonyna SmotrychMountain meadow1 200 mPolonyna SmotrychDzembroniaSmotrych Polonyna is a summer mountain pasture on the north-eastern spur of Mount Smotrych (1,898 m) in the...White Stone RockPeakWhite Stone RockDoraaltitude 538 m7 trails to the topThe White Stone Rock is located in the village of Dora in the Carpathians and is one of the most prominent natural...

Mountain ranges: Bieszczady. In other countries: 🇸🇰 High Tatras, 🇸🇰 Greater Fatra, 🇸🇰 Slovak Ore Mountains, 🇸🇰 Low Tatras, 🇨🇿 Moravian-Silesian Beskids, 🇵🇱 Żywiec Beskids, 🇸🇰 Western Tatras, 🇸🇰 Volovec Mountains, 🇸🇰 Lesser Fatra, 🇸🇰 Spiš Magura, 🇵🇱 Pieniny, 🇸🇰 Kysuce Beskids, 🇸🇰 Slovak Paradise

Trails and peaks near which naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, iNaturalist), matched by altitude and habitat. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Sources

GBIF · iNaturalist · Wikidata · Distribution data: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY records), iNaturalist; names and identifiers: Wikidata (CC0). Text: Karpaty.rocks, checked 09.11.2026.