How to identify White poplar (Populus alba)

How to identify White poplar (Populus alba)

White poplar, also known as Abele

White poplar is characterized by its stark white bark and deeply lobed, glossy green leaves with a silvery-white underside. The tree typically grows to approximately 50-80 feet (15-24 meters) in height. Its leaves, spanning around 2-4 inches (5-10 cm), display a rounded to triangular shape. White poplar often forms dense colonies due to its prolific root suckers, enabling a rapid spread around its base. During the spring, white poplar exhibits long, drooping clusters of flowers, known as catkins, which later mature into fluffy cotton-like seeds.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Tree

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify White poplar

Stark white bark with deep furrows and ridges, featuring distinctive white patches.

Leaves are glossy green with a silvery-white underside, lobed, and 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long.

Male flowers dangle in catkins, up to 2 inches (5 cm) long, lacking petals.

Fruit capsules split open, containing small seeds with cottony tufts for wind dispersal.

Trunk has thick, pale grey bark turning deeply furrowed with age, reaching 3 feet (90 cm) in diameter.

Detailed Traits of White poplar

Leaf Features

The leaves of white poplar are large, typically measuring 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) across and have 3 to 5 lobes with coarsely-toothed margins. The upper side of the leaf is green and smooth, while the underside is covered in a distinctive white, wooly texture, giving it a silvery appearance. The petioles are also wooly, contributing to the overall soft texture of the foliage. The veining is prominently visible, enhancing the leaf's unique look.

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

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Flower Features

White poplar flowers are dioecious with male and female inflorescences on separate trees. The female flowers are very small, about 1.5 mm (0.06 inches) in size, while the male flowers are larger, reaching up to 2 inches (5 cm) long. Male flowers are often in catkins and dangle visibly. These flowers lack petals and have a subtle fragrance. Blooming typically occurs in early spring, showcasing a form that is crucial for identification.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of white poplar manifests as capsules that intricately split open when mature. These capsules are typically lightweight and reveal numerous small seeds. Each seed is equipped with cottony tufts, resembling down, which facilitate their dispersal through the air. The fruit's capacity for wind-assisted travel is a defining characteristic, allowing for the widespread propagation of white poplar. While the exact dimensions of the capsules vary, they are generally of a modest size, making them less conspicuous against the plant's broader silhouette.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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White poplar and Their Similar Plants

Eastern cottonwood vs. White poplar: What's The Difference?

Eastern cottonwood is a fast-growing, short-lived commercial hardwood of America. It is known for its method of regeneration, where the fluff-covered seeds are dispersed by the wind and create the effect of ‘snow’ for a short period of time. The tree is cultivated for its lightweight wood to make a variety of furniture, plywood, and other wood products.

Quaking aspen vs. White poplar: What's The Difference?

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is a tree native to North America also commonly referred to as the trembling aspen or the golden aspen. Quaking aspen is the state tree of Utah in the United States. In the wild, quaking aspen attracts quail, beavers, rabbits, deer, sheep, and goats.

Black poplar vs. White poplar: What's The Difference?

Black poplar (Populus nigra) is a medium- to large-sized deciduous tree which can be naturally found in many alluvial European forests. It is a fast-growing tree, with a wide crown which is a common nesting place for different species of birds. Due to the degradation of its natural habitat, black poplar has become an endangered species in certain areas.

Swamp cottonwood vs. White poplar: What's The Difference?

It also grows north in the Mississippi Valley to southeastern Missouri western Tennessee Kentucky southern Illinois Indiana Ohio and southern Michigan. A separated population was discovered on a flat clay plain near Lake St. Clair in extreme south western Ontario Canada in fall 2002.

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Key Facts About White poplar

Attributes of White poplar

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Tree

Plant Height

15 m to 30 m

Spread

15 m to 24 m

Leaf Color

Green

White

Yellow

Flower Size

3 cm to 6 cm

Flower Color

Green

Red

Fruit Color

White

Stem Color

Green

White

Leaf type

Deciduous

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Scientific Classification of White poplar

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Nances, spurges, willows and allies

Family

Willow

Genus

Populus

Species

White poplar (Populus alba)

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Distribution Map of White poplar

Populus alba, known as white poplar, is widely distributed across various continents. Native to regions spanning from southwest Asia to Europe and northern Africa, white poplar thrives in its indigenous range. This species has also been introduced to parts of the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania for cultivation purposes. In certain areas, white poplar is sometimes thought to be a challenge to local ecosystems, notably so in some regions of the southern hemisphere where it may have an impact. Despite this, white poplar generally coexists as a cultivated plant without major disruption to ecosystems.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the White poplar

A Comprehensive Guide to White poplar How to Grow and Care for White poplar