Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

White Poplar (Populus alba)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Salicales>Salicaceae>Populus alba L.

White Poplar (Populus alba) leaves

White Poplar is a fairly common European import found in waste places and near old homesites. New sprouts frequently spring up from the roots; it is most often seen as a colony of small trees. Though it does spread slightly from cultivation, seedlings are very rare, so it poses relatively little threat as an invasive.

The uppersides of the maple-like leaves are dark green and very shiny.

White Poplar (Populus alba) leaves

The highly contrasting leaf undersides are densely white-woolly.

White Poplar (Populus alba) bark

Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.

White Poplar (Populus alba) bark

Bark of a medium-sized tree is smooth pale gray interrupted by diamond-shaped rough patches surrounding lenticels.

Orange Co., NC 3/20/10.

White Poplar (Populus alba) bark

Orange Co., NC 3/20/10.

More information:
PCA Alien Plant Working Group
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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