Semi-shade tolerant and considered a pioneer species. After fire, sprouts from the root crown and establishes by seed from plants in adjacent unburned areas. The bare mineral soils created by these disturbances are prime sites. These shrubs provide shade that reduces soil temperatures, allowing spruce and other genera to establish. Can be a major competitor of conifer seedlings .
Dense thickets can prevent conifer establishment over large areas.
However, due to its nitrogen-fixing ability, alder can improve soil fertility. Survives fire through persistent root crowns. Fire kills the aboveground portion of the plant. Root crowns in the mineral soil burn only under the most severe conditions, but they can be killed by the heat generated during a fire. Severe fires that remove the organic layer and expose and char root crowns can completely eliminate sprouting.