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Quaking Aspen Populus tremuloides

Phonetic Spelling
POP-yoo-lus trem-yoo-LOY-deez
Description

Quaking aspen is a native deciduous tree in the willow family.  It is found in one small area of the mountains of NC and generally does not grow south of zone 6. It has a strongly pyramidal form when young maturing to a narrow rounded crown.  It is a tree of cooler northern regions and thrives in rocky soils at high mountain elevations to clay or sandy loams at lower elevations.  

This tree has beautiful white bark and leaves that quake at the slightest breeze due to the flattened leaf stems. It will not tolerate heat and humidity. Fall foliage is a beautiful yellow. 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#native tree#cover plant#fall interest#small mammals#NC native#children's garden#playground plant#shimmer#short lifespan#deciduous tree#fall color yellow#bird friendly#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#native tree#cover plant#fall interest#small mammals#NC native#children's garden#playground plant#shimmer#short lifespan#deciduous tree#fall color yellow#bird friendly#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Populus
    Species:
    tremuloides
    Family:
    Salicaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Native Americans are known to have used this plant as a food source. To prepare it, they would cut the inner bark into strips, dry it, and then ground it to be mixed with other starches for bread or mush. They ate catkins raw, and the cambium both raw and in soups.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North America, NC
    Play Value:
    Wildlife Cover/Habitat
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wind Shimmer
    Dimensions:
    Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Pyramidal
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    White
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Catkin
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Description:
    Silver catkins appear before leaves
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Petioles are flattened which makes the leaves "quake" in the wind.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Green
    Light Gray
    White
    Surface/Attachment:
    Furrowed
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    Smooth silvery white-green becomes furrowed with age
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Recreational Play Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Children's Garden
    Native Garden
    Attracts:
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Short-lived