QUAKING ASPEN

Populus tremuloides

Height: 40-60'
Width: 20-30'
Hardiness Zone: 2
Exposure: sun
Origin: Labrador to Alaska and south to Northern Mexico to Pennsylvania.

Description:

Quaking Aspen has landscape value as a natural mass planting of rapid growing medium sized trees. It spreads by root suckers and can form a large colony from a single tree. Individual trees are upright in form. Leaves are light green above, silvery green beneath and flutter in even the lightest wind. Nice yellow to gold fall color.

Site and Cultural Requirements:

Well adapted to sandy soil but tolerates a wide range of soil types but intolerant of compacted soils. Can be short lived.

Insect/Disease Issues:

Canker diseases can render the trees short lived.

Cultivars:

No known cultivars

Related Species:

Populus balsamifera – Balsam Poplar is native in most of northern North America. It leafs out in very early spring. Buds and leaves are “gummy” and have a balsam-like fragrance. Leaves are glossy. Trees are oval to rounded in form and grow to 60-80’.

Populus grandidentata – Bigtooth Aspen is native from Nova Scotia to northeastern North Dakota through the Lake states, the northeast and along the Appalachians to Tennessee. It has an upright oval crown. Seldom found in developed areas. Bark is light grayish-white. It has rather weak wood and breaks readily. Populus tremula – is a similar species native in Europe. Cultivar P. t. ‘Erecta’ has a very narrow columnar form.

We would like to thank the Landscape Plant Development Center and Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for the botanical information and photos.

 

Open 9:00 AM until Sunset
Closed Mondays, open holidays
Phone: (515)-992-4211
Email: info@thebrentonarboretum.org