What is knotty alder?

According to Jeld-Wen, knotty alder is a wood species that has a rustic look, a uniform texture and a pronounced grain. It is an ideal choice of wood for staining.

If knotty alder is stained, it blends well with other wood species, such as cherry, walnut and mahogany, according to Jeld-Wen. The wood is filled with small knots and burl clusters. There can be random blonde streaks of sap wood, which gives the wood a more rustic look and feel, along with its knots and burls. The wood can range from a pale yellow to a reddish-brown, and any of these colors take stain well.