Poplar ( Populus ) trees are heavy deciduous Tree with rounded to triangular leaves , attractive grey barque , and small-scale clusters of droop flowers . Many poplar tree trees are name by their barque ’s color — white , gray-haired , or black — and triangular , ovate leaf . The white poplar is the most vulgar poplar tree and has white barque and bloodless and green leaves that seem to ‘ twinkle ’ in gentle air . Some species of poplar tree also have a fresh balsam scent .

aside from the common white poplar Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ( Populus alba ) , other types of poplars include the pitch-dark poplar ( Populus coon ) and balsam poplar ( Populus balsamifera ) . All poplar metal money are tight - growing trees that you will find growing indeciduous forests , as ornamental trees in parks or residential landscapes .

This article is a guide to identifying common poplar trees . Descriptions and exposure of poplar leaves , bark , and flowers will help identify different species of poplar .

Poplar Tree Facts

Poplar tree belong to to the genusPopulusin the willow familySalicaceae . Poplar tree range in height and grow between 20 and 165 ft . ( 6 – 50 m ) marvelous and up to 70 ft . ( 21 m ) wide . Poplars grow in USDA zones 3 through 9 .

Many poplar species are large ornamental Tree with wide-cut canopies , making for excellent tincture tree diagram . Some poplar , like the Lombardy poplar ( genus Populus nigra‘Lombardy ’ ) , have a columnar increase habit and are ideal privateness trees . Poplars are alsoperfect for marvellous seclusion hedgesto create a windbreak .

aboriginal poplar tree trees are easy to grow and have a relatively short life-time . in general , poplars get to mature height after 12 years and grow for about 50 years in sum . Thesefast - grow treesare good choices for planting in pie-eyed , moist solid ground where there is plenty of infinite .

Poplars have a shallow root scheme that can become invasive . You ’ll discover that poplar radical can disturb lawns and push up pathways . It ’s advisable to plant poplars between 20 and 30 ft . ( 6 – 10 molarity ) by from your sign of the zodiac , drive , or patio because of the spreading theme organisation .

Other common Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in thePopulusgenus arecottonwood treesandaspen Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . All Tree in the genusPopulusshare similar characteristics . Poplars are generally tall , fast - turn , and short - lived decorative trees .

It ’s important to remember thattulip poplarsor yellow poplar do n’t belong to the poplar genusPopulus .

This clause try the name lineament of Populus specieswith the name ‘ poplar ’ in its mutual name .

Poplar Tree Bark

The bark on poplar trees is politic and often a white or silvery - grey colour . An identify feature article of poplar Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is the lenticel on the bark . These morose - colored lenticel see like horizontal scores or rough growth . As poplar trees ripe , the barque of many species darkens and becomes rough or fissure .

The common whitened poplar tree can look like birch trees due to its barque . Poplar tree bark is more of a silver - gray color , and its barque does n’t strip . However , mostspecies of birch treeshave exfoliate pure white barque that peels off in strips .

Poplar Tree Leaves

Poplar tree leaves aresimple leaves arranged alternatelyon smooth sprig and vary in size and form . Typically , poplar tree leave-taking are triangular or heart - shaped with a pointed end and slightly rounded base . Some species of poplar trees have serrate or toothed margins , whereas others have lob leaves that resemblemaple tree diagram leaves .

The identifying feature of poplar tree species is their green leaves with silvery - white-hot underside . In the breeze , the bat leaf give the poplar tree a shimmering coming into court . Some species of poplar trees like the white poplar tree ( Populus alba ) and quiver aspen ( genus Populus tremuloides ) await like they are continually trembling or quaking .

Poplar Tree Flowers

Populus × canadensis ( Canadian poplar ) flowers

flush on poplar trees are foresightful , drooping cluster of midget flowers called catkins spring up in a svelte cone-shaped form . An name feature of most poplar tree is the cotton - like , foggy substance that grows after flower have bloomed . The fine furry , wooly hairs protect the semen and are easily blown from the tree .

Poplar Tree Identification

To key out specie of poplar tree , it ’s good to count at the colour of bark and leaf shape . you may recognize species of poplar by their leaves . White poplar have ellipse or lobed leaves with notch on the margins and a silvery underside . Black poplar have rounded leaves , and balsam poplar have triangular farewell with serrated margins .

The most plebeian poplar trees typically have the bark color in their common name .

Types of Poplar Trees (With Pictures)

Let ’s depend in more detail at common types of poplar trees and how to name them by their foliage shape and bark color .

White Poplar Tree (Populus alba)

The white poplar tree is a large , fast - produce deciduous tree with a broad , rounded crown . White poplar tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree parting have three to five lobes and raggedly serrated margin . you may key out white poplar maple - like leaves by their silver undersides and dark green upper side . white-hot poplar tree bark is smooth with diamond - shaped stigma .

White poplar mature between 50 and 100 foot . ( 15 – 30 m ) tall , and their broad canopy provide tidy sum of shade . Like most metal money of poplars , the ashen poplar tree thrives in moist to wet , well - run out soil . White poplar tree produce well in USDA zones 3 through 8 in full Dominicus .

The bloom on whitened poplar Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree are carmine or gray - immature catkins that grow up to 4 ” ( 10 centimetre ) long . The dangling , sagging slender cone-shaped flowers on distaff tree become flossy like cotton fiber wool and drop in late summer . Due to the white downy poplar tree seed hairs , white poplars are classed among cottonwood tree .

bloodless poplar female flower ( left ) and virile flower ( right )

whitened poplar Tree are not ideal for garden landscape . Their aggressive source scheme can push up driveways , paths or make lawns search unsightly — not to mention the hurt they can do to buildings . The flowers from white poplar trees also become downlike and cotton - same , making these poplars a mussy tree species .

Another condition before planting white poplars is that the Sir Henry Joseph Wood is relatively weak . potent winds can easy snap subdivision . Due to the poplar tree diagram ’s shallow root organisation , storm can sometimes uproot the tall trees .

To forestall poplar trees from damaging buildings , plant them between 30 and 40 feet ( 10 – 12 grand ) away from your house .

White poplar leaves

White poplar upper side leaf ( left ) and underside leaf ( right )

blank poplar Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree leaves are simple , alternately arranged lobed leaves that see like maple parting . Its leaf blades value 2 ” to 4 ” ( 5 – 10 cm ) long , are dark fleeceable on the top and white underneath . A feature of the blank poplar parting is ok hair coating the silvery underside . blank poplar tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree does n’t have any important fall colouring .

White poplar bark

example of white-hot poplar barque

lily-white poplar tree barque is thin and smooth with a gray - green appearance . This poplar is identified by flimsy horizontal assembly line around the trunk and diamond - shaped marks . As blanched poplar trees maturate , the bark develops say line that look black .

Black Poplar Tree (Populus nigra)

The opprobrious poplar tree is a large deciduous , broadleaved tree with triangular shiny green leaves with exquisitely toothed perimeter and elongated tips . grim poplars grow between 65 and 100 foot . ( 20 – 30 m ) . The black poplar tree receive its common name from its dark , approximative bark .

Black poplars are alsoflowering trees . Like the white poplar species , the black poplar male tree diagram produces red flowering catkin , and the female trees have yellowish - green ones .

Black poplar leaves

Black poplar tree tree leaves look like triangle with foresighted tips . Up near , delineation of these poplar tree diagram leaves show a fine serration along the vane margin . Black poplar leaf are between 2 ” and 3 ” ( 5 – 8 cm ) long and up to 3 ” ( 8 centimetre ) astray . Leaves on fatal poplar tree turn yellow in the fall .

Black poplar bark

bootleg poplar tree bark is dark grey-headed with a rough appearance and furrow texture .

Lombardy Poplar (Populus nigra‘Italica’)

Lombardy Poplar ( Populus nigra ‘ Italica ’ )

The Lombardy poplar tree is a stunning tall , slender tree with just branch growth , triangular leave , and sour gray , furrow bark . The undischarged feature of the Lombardy poplar is its narrow-minded , columniform growth . Thistall weedy poplar treegrows between 40 and 50 foot . ( 12 – 15 K ) marvellous and between 10 and 15 ft . ( 3 – 4.5 m ) wide-cut .

The Lombardy poplar is classed as afastigiatetree — have in mind that its branches develop upwards , almost parallel to the straightforward trunk . The best utilisation of Lombardy poplar trees is forgrowing as a improbable seclusion hedgeor windbreak . The tree ’s thick foliage create a natural screen up to 50 foot . ( 15 m ) tall .

Also call the Italian poplar , the columnlike tree diagram is a messy tree due to its fluffy thud of white-hot seed hairs that drift around in the summertime . Also , the poplar ’s shallow roots and aggressive nature make it undesirable as an ornamental landscape painting tree .

Lombardy poplar leaves

Lombardy poplar tree tree parting are deltoid ( triangular ) regulate with a pointed point and delicately - toothed blade margins . The bright green poplar leaves are 2 ” to 4 ” ( 5 – 10 cm ) long . Unlike white-hot poplars , Lombardy poplars have an attractive fall colour when the leaf turn golden chicken .

Lombardy poplar bark

Lombardy poplar tree tree diagram bark has a approximate texture and a dark gray - green coloring material that becomes black and fissured as it matures .

Necklace Poplar (Populus deltoides)

The necklace poplar tree tree is a colossal poplar tree with argent - clean bark , large triangular foliage , and ruby-red - purpleness or green , drooping flowers . Also called the easterly cottonwood Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , the necklace poplar flush become white and fuzzy as they call on to seed . The necklace poplar tree grows between 65 and 195 ft . ( 20 – 60 m ) tall .

Unlike many other type of poplars , the necklace poplar lives a long time . you may expect these poplars to dwell for between 70 and 100 years — much longer than the received 20 or 30 years for most poplar tree .

Necklace poplar leaves

Necklace poplar tree leafage have a trigon shape with coarsely toothed margins . The leaf are attached to the branch by flatten petioles that cause them to flutter constantly . The leaves on this poplar metal money turn from sour dark-green to yellow in the dip .

Necklace poplar bark

barque of fledged Necklace poplar tree tree

Necklace poplar tree tree bark looks bland and silver when the tree diagram is young . The barque on matured necklace poplar tree trees is dark gray with deep scissure giving the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree tree trunk a rough grain .

Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera)

The balsam poplar tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is a hardwood tree with dissolute growth , simple lanceolate or ovate , glazed green leave , and crimson - hoar , furrowed bark . The balsam poplar gets its name from the viscid , strong - smack substance from the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree bud that resembles balsam fir trees . Balsam poplars grow between 80 and 130 ft . ( 25 – 40 thou ) marvellous .

Balsam poplar trees are cold - hardydeciduous treesthat originate well in USDA zone 2 through 7 . Like all poplars , the balsam poplar tree thrives in dampish , well - draining dirt and full Dominicus .

Balsam poplar leaves

Balsam poplar tree diagram leaf are minute , ovately regulate with a protruding tip and finely - serrate security deposit . The dark green simple leaves are alternately arranged on branches . Balsam tree diagram leaves have a fresh , aromatic smell of balsam . The leaves grow up to 2.3 ” ( 6 cm ) long and 2 ” ( 5 cm ) widely .

Balsam poplar bark

Balsam poplar barque ( mature tree )

Balsam poplar tree bark is smooth and grey when the tree is young . As the poplar tree matures , the barque becomes sinister and fissured with long , scaly ridge .

Western Balsam Poplar (Populus trichocarpa)

The westerly balsam poplar is a large deciduous tree native to North America . Also call the black cottonwood , western balsam poplar is identified by long , glistening dark dark-green leaves , hard gray barque , and crimson or green dangling flowers or catkin . Western balsam poplar grow between 100 and 165 ft . ( 30 – 50 m ) tall .

The vast size of this poplar makes the western balsam poplar the largest of the native American coinage .

The western balsam poplar tree tree has a large , dense conelike crown . The lower branches run to droop down , giving the low part of the tree a slimly tears appearance . Due to its aggressive and robust root system , it ’s estimable to plant this poplar species by from buildings .

Western balsam poplar leaves

Western balsam poplar tree leaves are identified as mere foliage that are loosely ovate and maturate alternately on branches . The leaves grow 3 ” to 5 ” ( 7 – 12 cm ) long and have a wedge or essence material body . There is fine serration along the blade margins . The broad leafage have a dark dark-green upper side and silvery - green undersurface .

Western balsam poplar bark

westerly balsam poplar tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree barque becomes dark greyish - Brown University with pronounced ridges and grooves .

Canadian poplar (Populus × canadensis)

The Canadian poplar tree is an attractive broadly columnar Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with ovate , center - determine lustrous green leaf growing obtusely on the branch . This poplar species grows up to 130 ft . ( 40 m ) . The magniloquent tree is recognise by its rounded , narrowly disseminate crown . In the spring , male Canadian poplar tree Tree bring about ruby flowers on tenacious loll catkins .

Also called the Carolina poplar , Canadian poplar tree is a hybrid poplar tree which is a cross between the black-market poplar ( Populus nigra ) and the necklace poplar ( genus Populus deltoides ) .

Canadian poplar leaves

Canadian poplar tree tree leafage are wedge - work with a flat or rounded base , serrate margin , and a tapered point . Like other poplar tree , the Canadian poplar tree leaves have long flattened petioles that make the shiny leaves hurly burly in soft breezes .

Canadian poplar bark

Canadian poplar tree diagram bark

Canadian poplar tree tree bark is white and still and gradually becomes furrowed and black as it reaches maturity .

Gray Poplar Tree (Populus × canescens)

The gray poplar is a fast - rise , vigorous marvelous Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with dark green leaves with a fuzzy silvery underside . grey poplars have a wide , spreading emergence habit forming an spotty rounded crown . This intercrossed poplar species grows between 40 and 70 ft . ( 12 – 21 m ) .

Gray poplar leaves

Gray poplar tree diagram leaves

Gray poplar tree leaves are rounded to oval blades with more or less serrated margins . The round simple poplar leaves impound to the branch in an alternate arrangement on short leafstalk .

Gray poplar bark

grey poplar barque on a mature tree

Gray poplar bark depend lily-white and liquid when the tree diagram is youthful . The bark gradually develops a benighted grey colour with some shallow fissuring on the bole .

related to articles :