“And the day of judgement near at hand The alder trees, the head of the line, Formed the van, The willows and quicken trees, Came late to the army, Plum-trees, that are scarce, Unlonged for of men, The elaborate medlar-trees, True objects of contention, The prickly rose-bushes, Against a host, of giants…”

The Battle of the Trees, Book of Taliesin VIII, 14th century

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Cover art by Mortz Ludwig von Schwind

The Alder or Alnus glutinosa is also called black alder. It’s called fearnóg in Gaeilge and feàrna in Scots Gaelic. It’s typically smaller in stature than most trees and grows readily near waterways or wetlands. This naturally lended to a magical association as water was considered sacred. I love that Alder is often one of the first species of trees to inhabit barren land. Being as such, it’s in essence a forest starter tree in that it prepares the landscape for mixed forests by attracting wildlife to the area to feed off and shelter in its branches. Eventually, the alder may die out, paying the ultimate sacrifice as it is slowly overshadowed by larger trees that end up growing nearby to it over time. It also has the incredible ability to quickly stabilize river banks or other bodies of water, assist in flood control and purify the water itself. Like most trees, the alder has insects and wildlife dependent on it, especially the wonderful catkins. I love that the alder is smaller yet mighty, fascinatingly fulfilling so many niche roles in its environment and have really grown to appreciate it over the years. Being in the birch family, I find the alder to have a peculiar and unique magic about it.

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