White alder
Alnus rhombifolia
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
full sun
Water
high
Size
360"–960" H × 240"–480" W
Bloom
Feb, Mar
Native to
CA, ID, MT, OR and 1 more states
Pollinators
bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaTall deciduous tree with smooth gray bark and oval toothed leaves, producing drooping catkins in late winter before leaves emerge. Grows along streambanks and in moist canyon bottoms, often forming a canopy over water.
Wildlife value
Streamside cover and leaf litter support aquatic insects that fish and birds depend on. Early catkins provide pollen for bees.
Common questions
- How much sun does White alder need?
- White alder grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does White alder bloom?
- White alder blooms in February and March.
- Where is White alder native?
- White alder (Alnus rhombifolia) is native to CA, ID, MT, OR and 1 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does White alder attract?
- White alder draws bees.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow White alder? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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