Populus tremuloidesIndiana Native
Quaking Aspen

 Plant Type:
 Growth Forms:
 Hardiness:
 Deciduous / Evergreen:
 Flower Notes:
Green (Green dioecious catkins; not ornamentally important)
 Foliage Notes:
Green (Dark green summer leaves that are a dull green underneath); Yellow (Handsome golden-yellow fall foliage)
 Fruit Notes:
Green (Small cottony seeds borne in drooping clusters of capsules; not ornamentally important)
 Ultimate Height:
40-50 feet
 Ultimate Spread:
20-30 feet
 Light Requirements:
 Soil Notes:
Quite adaptable to different soil types
 Range:
Widely distributed across most of North America (the most extensive native distribution of a species on the continent)
 Diagnostic Characteristics:
Leaves (1.5-3" long and wide) are alternate, simple, broad ovate to cordate, acuminate, and glabrous, with rounded serrations and flattened petioles (causing the leaves to catch the wind and flutter). The brownish-red buds are imbricate and sharp-pointed (lateral buds are also curved inwards). Stems are a glossy, reddish-brown. Young bark is smooth and can be chalky-white, cream, or gray-green; mature bark is furrowed with dark warty protuberances.

Additional Information

The common name of Populus tremuloides is derived from the tendency of the leaves to tremble (quake) in the wind, or even light breezes, due to flattened petioles. This is a fast-growing and short-lived species that regenerates from root suckers and can quickly recolonize disturbed sites. Generally, most of the specimens in a grove of P. tremuloides are clones, all originating from the same stem. This plant is dioecious, so groves are usually all male or all female. The narrow-crowned Quaking Aspen tends to grow straight up and then lose its lower limbs over time. This species is not generally recommended for ornamental use due to its susceptibility to a number of pests and diseases. Prefers cooler climates.

30 Populus tremuloides found

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Other plants like this Populus tremuloides (Quaking Aspen)

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