Populus tremuloides (Quaking Aspen)

Plant Description: Populus tremuloides is perhaps most noted for its beautiful white bark, its deep green foliage that quakes in the slightest breeze, and its golden yellow fall foliage color. This is a medium sized deciduous tree with a narrow, rounded crown that grows up to 50 ft. Ovate-triangular to nearly round, dark glossy green leaves (to 3” long) are finely toothed. The bark of young trees is smooth and greenish white. As the tree matures, bark becomes more chalky white with black warty patching. Aspens are dioecious, with male and female flowers appearing in separate catkins on separate clones in Spring before the foliage. Catkins are gray-green and not showy. Small drooping fruiting clusters follow the female flowers.

Seven Oaks uses a Northern Idaho seed source for these plants - they have found that trees from this source have a resistance to black spot, a fungal disease that plagues aspen trees.

• Height: up to 50ft
• Watering needs: keep consistently moist
• Sun needs: full sun to part shade
• Soil needs: rish, humusy, well-drained 
• Bloom Time: April-May
• Portland Plant List (Backyard Habitat Certification): Yes

Landscape Use and Ecological Function: This tree has the widest geographical distribution of any North American tree, being indigenous to Alaska and most of Canada, the Pacific Northwest, New England, the Great Lakes and south in the Rockies to New Mexico and Arizona. This Willamette Valley native is recommended for use in meadowscapes and woodland gardens. In the wild, this tree grows in a large variety of soils ranging from rocky soils at high mountain elevations to clay or sandy loams at lower elevations.

*2nd photo by SevenOaks Nursery*