Populus tremuloides
Quaking Aspen
Salicaceae
ExpandHabitat
- native to western and eastern coasts of North America
- hardy to zone 1
Habit and Form
- a deciduous tree
- 40' to 50' tall
- 20' to 30' wide
- narrow, conical in youth maturing into a rounded crown
- medium texture
- fast growth rate
Summer Foliage
- alternate leaf arrangement
- simple, deciduous leaves
- orbicular leaf shape
- 1.5" to 3" long
- finely serrated leaf margins
- glacescent leaf underside
- dark green leaf color
Autumn Foliage
- yellow fall color
Flowers
- not ornamentally important
Fruit
- not ornamentally important
Bark
- slender, reddish brown stems
- greenish-gray bark
- smooth
- furrowed and darkened bark with age
Culture
- prefers wet soils
- full sun
- soil tolerant
Landscape Use
- lumber
- interesting form
Liabilities
- do not plant near sewers, septic tanks, drains or sidewalks
- suckers
- canker
- short-lived
- too many to name
ID Features
- terminal, imbricate, conical, sharp-pointed buds
- buds are resinous and reddish brown
- narrow, conical habit
- finely, serrated leaf margins
- slender, reddish, brown twigs
Propagation
- by seed
Cultivars/Varieties
- none