Populus tremula – Aspen

General Information Common Name  Aspen Scientific Name  Populus tremula Sun Tolerance  Full Sun Height  10-20 m (33 - 66 ft) Spread  6 -12 m (20 - 40 ft) Growth Rate  Fast Bloom Time  Early Spring Color  Green Flower Color  Yellow Type  Tree Native  Europe, USA

Classification Kingdom  Plantae – Plants Subkingdom  Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division  Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants Class  Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons Subclass  Dilleniidae Order/  Salicales Family  Salicaceae – Willow family Genus  Populus L. – cottonwood Species  P. tremula

Populus tremula – Aspen

Populus tremula common name is Aspen also called European Aspen. This is a moderate sized poplar, erect with a lender crown and trunk, is perhaps best known from its roundest leaves which almost ceaselessly quiver and rustle even on calm days. It is very hardy and tolerates well places, unfortunately perhaps, it is often surrounded with numerous suckers which may even form a thicket.

The adult leaves, produced on branches of mature trees, are nearly round, slightly wider than long, 2–8 cm diameter, with a coarsely toothed margin and a laterally flattened petiole 4–8 cm long. The young green shoots soon become smooth and golden brown, and then darken. The branch-less are smooth and shiny with winter buds that are shiny reddish-brown and sometimes somewhat sticky. The roundish leaves, on a long thin much flattened leaf-stalk, are dull, rich green on top, paler yellow underneath, three prominent veins radiate from the base, and the outer rim has indented edges and is sometimes tinged with red. The quivering leaves persist on the tree late into the autumn, turning a rich yellow before they fall.

The male catkins, which open late in February, are woolly on account of the deeply cut and hairy scales, they have purple stamens, later contrasting with the yellow pollen. The seed capsules burst in the latter part of May, but seed rarely germinates well. Propagation is best by root cuttings.

At first the bark is pale greenish-grey and smooth, becoming dark grey and rugged with age. The white wood is light and soft, and is excellent for match sticks and match boxes. Other uses include ‘chip’ baskets, paper pulp and wood wool. The tree seldom reaches a suitable timber size in Europe, so attempts to cultivate it are rare.

Populus tremula – Aspen

European Aspen : Leaves

European Aspen : Leaves

European Aspen : Leaves

European Aspen : Flowers

European Aspen : Flowers

European Aspen : Flowers

European Aspen : Bark

European Aspen : Trunk

European Aspen : Log

European Aspen : in Autumn

European Aspen in Autumn

European Aspen in Autumn

European Aspen

European Aspen

Populus Nigra - Lombardy Poplar

General Information Common Name  Lombardy Poplar Scientific Name  Populus nigra Sun Tolerance  Full Sun Height  40-50 m (130-150 ft) Spread  6 -12 m (20 - 40 ft) Growth Rate  Fast Bloom Time  Late Spring Color  Green Flower Color  Yellow Type  Tree Native  Europe, USA

Classification Kingdom  Plantae – Plants Subkingdom  Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division  Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants Class  Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons Subclass  Dilleniidae Order/  Salicales Family  Salicaceae – Willow family Genus  Populus L. – cottonwood Species  P. nigra

Populus Nigra - Lombardy Poplar

Populus Nigra subspecies 'Italica' common name is Lombardy Poplar. This is well known poplar in Europe. It is a narrow erect tall tree with a graceful plume-like fastigiated outline which adds dignity to the landscape.
Sub-species of Populus nigra:
* Populus nigra sub-species: nigra. Central and eastern Europe. Leaves and shoots glabrous (hairless); bark grey-brown, thick and furrowed.
* Populus nigra sub-species: betulifolia (Pursh) W.Wettst. North-west Europe (France, Great Britain, Ireland). Leaf veins and shoots finely downy; bark grey-brown, thick and furrowed, often with heavy burrs, trunk usually heavily leaning.
* Populus nigra sub-species: caudina (Ten.) Bugała. Mediterranean region, also southwest Asia if var. afghanica not distinguished.
* Populus nigra var. sub-species: afghanica Aitch. & Hemsl. (syn. P. nigra var. thevestina (Dode) Bean). Southwest Asia; treated as a cultivar of P. nigra by many botanists and as a distinct species P. afghanica by others bark smooth, nearly white; leaves and shoots as subsp. caudina.
* 'Italica'. The true Lombardy poplar, selected in Lombardy, northern Italy, in the 17th century. The growth is fastigiate, with a very narrow crown. Coming from the Mediterranean region, it is adapted to hot, dry summers and grows poorly in humid conditions, being short-lived due to fungal diseases. It is a male clone.

The green shoots become pale yellow, then grayish or brown. The reddish-brown winter buds are oval and pointed. The leaves are triangular in shape, though the basal angles are rounded, not sharp. This is a deciduous tree.

The short pendent male catkins have red anthers. They shed pollen in late March or early April. Female catkins are longer, green and curved.

The bark soon becomes rugged, and is almost black at the base, smooth and grey or brown on the upper part. The branches are all more or less erect. The tree normally never suckers, but when cut down suckers arise over practically the whole extent covered by its root system. It is useless for timber particularly on account of its numerous knots. 

The main purpose of planting the tree is to provide a screen, or a barrier against wind, dust and noise. It is easily struck from cuttings.

Populus Nigra - Lombardy Poplar

Populus Nigra - Lombardy Poplar

Populus Nigra - Lombardy Poplar Bark

 Lombardy Poplar Woods

Populus Nigra - Lombardy Poplar Leaves

Populus Nigra - Lombardy Poplar Beauty

Populus Nigra - Lombardy Poplar