Populus balsamiferaIndiana Native
Balsam Poplar

 Plant Type:
 Growth Forms:
 Hardiness:
 Deciduous / Evergreen:
 Flower Notes:
Red (Dark red.)
 Foliage Notes:
Green (Light to medium green)
 Stem Notes:
Red-gray to Brown (smooth and becomes grayer with age, produces flat scaly ridges)
 Fruit Notes:
Hairless capsule, arranged in catkins, small brown seeds
 Ultimate Height:
75-100 feet
 Ultimate Spread:
45-65 feet
 Bloom Times:
 Light Requirements:
 Soil Water Requirements:
 Soil Notes:
Prefers moist to wet soils; wet soil tolerant (often found in wetlands).
 Range:
North America
 Maintenance:
 Diagnostic Characteristics:
Leaves are long, narrow, simple with toothed edges and occurring one per node. Mature fruit splits upon maturity. Buds contain three or more scales which overlap like shingles.

Additional Information

Buds exude a resin (the source of "balm of Gilead") that is traditionally used as an ointment to relieve chest congestion. The resin is also flammable, so twigs are used for starting fires. The streaked brown and grey wood is used in carving and woodworking. Trees are found along forest edges, forests, meadows and fields, and shores of rivers or lakes.

19 Populus balsamifera found

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= Heritage plant = Memorial plant
Number Accession ID Location
12022_15760*AHORTPARK
22022_15760*BHORTPARK
32023_00279*AHORTPARK
42023_00279*BHORTPARK
52023_00279*CHORTPARK
62023_00279*DHORTPARK
72023_00279*EHORTPARK
82023_00279*FHORTPARK
92023_00279*GHORTPARK
102023_00279*HHORTPARK
112023_00279*IHORTPARK
122023_00279*JHORTPARK
132023_00279*KHORTPARK
142023_00279*LHORTPARK
152023_00279*MHORTPARK
162023_00279*NHORTPARK
172023_00279*OHORTPARK
182023_00279*PHORTPARK
192023_00279*QHORTPARK

Other plants like this Populus balsamifera (Balsam Poplar)

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