Birches & Alders

Gray Birch Hazel Alder Hazel Alder Hazel Alder

What are they?

This family consists of a trees and woody shrubs which typically have wind-pollinated catkins in early spring. Birches are well-known for their often startlingly white bark which makes many species popular as garden ornamentals.

Where are they found?

Typically these are plants of boggy ground and riverside habitats, but relics of cultivation may occasionally be found on the site of old houses.

Identification

Though identification of this group can at times be tricky, there are few species in the Cape May area and identification based on bark and leaves is fairly straitforward.



American Hornbeam      Carpinus caroliniana

Uncommon in Cape May County, but may be found in areas of species-rich, wet woodland. Flowers April. Leaves similar to those of American Beech but smaller and rougher to the touch. Larger branches and young trunks have a distinctive structure to them, with a strongly contoured shape making them resemble the musculature of a human arm.
American Hornbeam American Hornbeam American Hornbeam American Hornbeam
Young leaf
Mature leaf
Leaf edge
Fruit

American Hornbeam American Hornbeam
Young, contoured trunk
Winter twig

American Hazel      Corylus americana

Introduced from further west and found as a rare relic of cultivation. Flowers March. A multistemmed, spreading, large bush with hairy leaves and young growths. Fruit is the well-known hazelnut, though the larger nuts of cultivation more often come from introduced, European species.
American Hazel American Hazel American Hazel American Hazel
Leaves
Leaf edge
Male flowers
Female flower

American Hazel American Hazel American Hazel
Fruit
Fruit
Young branch

Gray Birch      Betula populifolia

Probably the only native birch in Cape May County. Widespread and fairly common in wet woods throughout the area, though nowhere dominant. Flowers April to May.
Gray Birch Gray Birch Gray Birch
Leaf
Leaf
Young seed heads
Gray Birch Gray Birch
Winter bud
Bark

River Birch      Betula nigra

Native in New Jersey but perhaps only a garden escape in Cape May County. Occasionally found on rough ground, especially in damp areas. Naturally, this is a tree of wet woods, especially on deeper, alluvial soils. Flowers April to May. Easily identified by its shaggy bark, which peels off in great, papery wads. A popular yard tree.
River Birch River Birch River Birch River Birch
Leaf
Leaf underside
Leaf edge
Male catkins

River Birch River Birch River Birch
Female catkins
Winter bud
Bark

Hazel Alder      Alnus serrulata

Occasional in wetland areas, especially along the banks of permanent rivers and streams. Seemingly uncommon in Cape May County. Flowers March to April. Male flowers are carried in hanging, yellow catkins; female flowers form small reddish clusters immediately above the male catkins and swell to become hard seed heads resembling small pine cones.
Hazel Alder Hazel Alder Hazel Alder Hazel Alder
Habit
Leaves
Male flowers
Female flowers

Hazel Alder Hazel Alder Hazel Alder Hazel Alder
Young leaves accompanied
by large bracts
Mature cones
Bark
Winter twig

European Alder      Alnus glutinosa

Introduced from Europe. Not established in the wild in Cape May County but may occasionally be encountered where planted. Flowers March to April. Differs from the native alder by its broadly rounded leaf with squared off top and its much larger male catkins and fruiting cones.
European Alder European Alder European Alder European Alder
Habit
Leaf
Male flowers
Mature cones

European Alder European Alder
Winter twig
Bark of young tree