Alphabetical Plant Listing

Populus tremuloides (American Aspen)

American Aspen, Quaking Aspen, Golden Aspen, Trembling Aspen, Mountain Aspen, Aspen, Trembling Poplar, Alamo Blanco


Populus tremuloides (American Aspen) is a medium-sized deciduous tree of softly pyramidal habit with a narrow, rounded crown boasting rounded, finely toothed, lustrous dark green leaves, up to 3 in. long (7 cm). They turn brilliant golden-yellow in the fall. The leaves have a flattened petiole which allows them to flutter and tremble in the slightest breeze, constantly moving and rustling, so that trees can often be heard but not seen. In mid-spring, before the leaves emerge, small male and female flowers appear in separate catkins on separate male and female trees. The female flowers give way to small drooping fruiting clusters. The bark is smooth and greenish white first later furrowed with diamond-shaped pores (lenticels). A beautiful tree for cool summer climates.

  • Grows up to 20-50 ft. tall (6-15 m) and 10-30 ft. wide (3-9 m). Short-lived, this tree reproduces rapidly from seed and root suckers to form large colonies.
  • A full sun lover, this plant is easily grown in rich, humusy, fertile, consistently moist but well-drained soils. Avoid planting near buildings due to the vigorous root system.
  • This beautiful tree may be subject to dieback, leaf spots, rusts, powdery mildew, cankers, caterpillars, borers, aphids, and scale.
  • Propagate from hardwood cuttings in winter or suckers in autumn or late winter.
  • Native from Canada to Mexico.

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Requirements

Hardiness 2 – 8
Heat Zones 1 – 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, A1, A2, A3
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Populus - Poplars
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 20' – 50' (6m – 15m)
Spread 10' – 30' (3m – 9m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance High
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Alaska, California, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Arkansas, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow

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Dean Pennala, Don Mammoser, Shutterstock, Chanticleer Garden

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 2 – 8
Heat Zones 1 – 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, A1, A2, A3
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Populus - Poplars
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 20' – 50' (6m – 15m)
Spread 10' – 30' (3m – 9m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance High
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Alaska, California, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Arkansas, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow

Guides with Populus - Poplars

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