Plant ID card |
|
|---|---|
Botanical name |
Populus tremula. |
Common name |
Aspen, Poplar aspen, European aspen. |
Family |
Salicaceae. |
Origin |
Europe, Asia. |
Dimensions |
Up to 20 m in height and 8 m in wingspan. |
Foliage |
Lapsed. The leaves are round in shape, ending in a point. They are matte dark green on top and silver on the bottom. |
Bloom |
The flowers bloom between March and April, before the leaves grow back. Male catkins are silver, while female catkins are greenish. |
Fruiting |
The female flowers give way to capsules which mature until May. They then release cottony seeds. |
Exposure |
Sun, partial shade. |
Ground |
Rich, fresh or moist, well drained. |
Rusticity |
Up to -35°C. |
Cultivated for its soft and light wood, used in the manufacture of matches and paper pulp, the aspen is above all a very beautiful forest tree.
Can reach 30 meters in height, it is appreciated for its rapid growth, its columnar habit and its elegant green and silver foliage.
How to recognize an aspen?
The aspen belongs to the genus
Populus
, which includes around thirty species.
Its differences from other poplars lie in its presence in clearings and at the edges of forests, its shallower roots and its lower water requirements.
But it is the foliage of the aspen poplar that makes its reputation.
Indeed, its leaves have the particularity of being attached to the branches by a long and flattened petiole, which allows them to be rocked by the wind.
The foliage of this tree trembles
at the slightest breeze, hence its name.
In fall, the foliage of the aspen (
Populus tremula
) transforms into a dazzling spectacle of color.
The leaves, normally a vibrant green during summer, begin to take on
warm hues of yellow
, gold, and sometimes orange-red, reflecting falling temperatures and changing seasons.
Read alsoBlack poplar, exceptional longevity
The foliage of this tree trembles at the slightest breeze, hence its name.
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No use without permission.
Where to plant an aspen in your garden?
The aspen is an undemanding tree, which can be planted in most gardens:
Soil:
aspen poplar adapts to all soils, with a preference for fresh, well-drained soils.
Rich soil will also give it faster growth;
Exposure:
Populus tremula
appreciates a sunny to slightly shaded exposure.
It tolerates wind very well, except for sea spray.
This is the reason why it is rarely found in maritime regions;
Location:
as it can reach 30 meters in height with a wingspan of 8 meters, it does not like shade and its roots are quite noticeable, it is better to plant aspen far from buildings.
When and how to plant an aspen?
Aspen can be planted in the garden
in spring or fall
, preferably alone.
It can be planted in a row if you want to create a windbreak hedge.
How to take care of an aspen?
Once established, aspen requires very little maintenance:
Watering:
it is only necessary to water
Populus tremula
during the first summers, in addition to good mulching to maintain fresh soil;
Pruning:
you can carry out formal pruning in winter to balance the branches of the tree.
What is the name of the aspen fruit?
The fruit of the aspen tree does not have a specific name.
They are simple oblong-shaped
capsules
that contain seeds.
Note that only female aspens produce these fruits, since it is a dioecious tree.
Pollination then takes place by the wind.
How to use aspen?
Aspen can be planted in the garden in spring or fall, preferably alone.
It can be planted in a row if you want to create a windbreak hedge.
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No use without permission.
In the garden, the aspen makes an excellent windbreak.
Otherwise, its wood is often used for carpentry, matchmaking and paper production.
Why are we talking about aspen?
The tree nicknamed “trembling aspen” is another tree of the
Populus
genus :
Populus tremuloides
.
This tree native to North America is a close cousin of
Populus tremula
.
They are sometimes differentiated by calling them European aspen and American aspen respectively.