These are alders - excellent trees or shrubs, almost all deciduous, for growing in damp places, typically along the banks of rivers. They are related to the birches, Betula, and originate from the temperature regions of the northern hemisphere. They have long male catkins and shorter female catkins, both kinds on the same plant. The female ones remain after flowering, becoming woody and brown, and open when they are ripe to release the small seeds.

Alnus fauriei is a large shrub, usually multi-stemmed, for damp places, only recently introduced to cultivation, and uncommon in its native Japan. It has very large, rounded leaves and long, purple catkins.