The Speckled Alder is native to much of Canada, New England, New York, northern and western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, northern Ohio, much of Michigan, Wisconsin, and north and east Minnesota in swamps, bottomlands, lake margins, and along water courses. It is fast growing of about 2 to 3 feet/year and lives around 40 years. It is recognized by having white lenticels on the stems. The leaves are 2 to 4.5 inches long and have big doubly serrate, irregular teeth. (The very similar Tag or Smooth Alder of A. serrulata has smaller, regular teeth of the leaf margin.) It is sold by some native plant nurseries for naturalistic landscaping in wet soils. I think it makes a nice birch-like shrub that is smooth and clean.

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