Canadian poplar

Do you want to plant a Canadian poplar? Here you will find all the information you need on how to best plant the Canadian poplar, and on pruning and caring for your Canadian poplar.
Back to overview

General characteristics of a Canadian poplar

The Canadian poplar is a hybrid: it is a cross between the black poplar (Populus nigra), which grows wild along our rivers, and the American poplar (Populus deltoides).

In the Dutch and Belgian landscape, the tall trees with straight trunks and open crowns are easily recognisable as Canadian poplars, Populus x canadensis. They not only form planted forest-like plantations, but are also often planted as hedgerows or along roads and canals. This creates the effect of a coulisse landscape.

The inflorescence is a hanging catkin that usually appears before the leaves sprout. Male catkins have reddish-purple stamens. They fall off quickly after releasing the pollen, which is then spread by the wind (wind pollination).

The female catkins remain hanging after pollination until May and June. Then the capsule bursts open and releases the 3 × 1 mm seed. The seed is surrounded by fluffy down.

Relatively little is known about the relationship between poplar biodiversity, but the available information shows that the poplar plays an important role for many plants and animals. For example, the poplar is an important host for many species of insects. For many butterflies, moths and beetles, the poplar is an important source of food. Research into species-specific insects in various European countries has counted between 88 and 114 species. This puts poplars in seventh place.

Characteristics


How to plant a Canadian poplar

Toch vraagt de soort om zorgvuldig beheer. Canadese populier vormt worteluitlopers en kan via zaad spontaan nieuwe bomen vestigen buiten het beheerde perceel. Vooral langs rivieren, beekdalen en open, lichte zandgronden kan hij zich lokaal invasief gedragen.

Slieten van de Canadese populier, oftewel jonge stekken of éénjarige boompjes, vormen een efficiënte manier om nieuwe aanplant te realiseren in voedselbossen of houtproductiepercelen. De beste plantperiode is in de herfst tot het vroege voorjaar, wanneer de bomen bladloos zijn en de sapstroom nog niet op gang is. Voor een goede vestiging is een zonnige locatie van belang, bij voorkeur op vochthoudende, goed doorlatende klei- of lemige zandgronden; droge zand- of veengronden zijn minder geschikt en kunnen risico’s op invasie vergroten.

Bij het planten wordt de slieet rechtop in een ruim uitgegraven gat van ongeveer 50 bij 50 centimeter gezet, met wortels gespreid en licht aangedrukt om luchtzakken te voorkomen. Gezonde slieten van 50 tot 100 centimeter lengte zijn het meest geschikt. In de eerste weken is regelmatig water geven essentieel, terwijl mulch rondom de voet helpt om vocht vast te houden en onkruid te remmen. Jongere slieten kunnen extra steun krijgen met een paal bij winderige locaties. Gedurende de eerste jaren is het belangrijk om worteluitlopers en spontaan opkomende zaailingen te verwijderen om ongecontroleerde verspreiding te voorkomen. 

How to harvest a Canadian poplar

De populier kan eenvoudig worden vermeerderd via houten stekken, wat een efficiënte manier is om jonge bomen te produceren voor voedselbossen of houtproductie. De beste periode om stekken te nemen is in de winter, wanneer de boom bladloos is en in rust verkeert. Voor het nemen van stekken selecteer je gezonde, rechte takken van ongeveer 30 tot 50 centimeter lengte en met een diameter van één tot twee centimeter. Verwijder alle zijscheuten en bladeren, zodat de stek zich volledig kan richten op wortelontwikkeling.

Bij de voorbereiding van de stek wordt de onderkant schuin afgesneden en de bovenkant recht gelaten om waterafvoer te bevorderen. Optioneel kan de onderkant in wortelhormoon worden gedoopt om de beworteling te stimuleren, al is dit bij populier niet strikt noodzakelijk. Het belangrijkste is dat de stek gezond is, zonder beschadigingen of ziektes, en dat er voldoende knopen aanwezig zijn waaruit wortels kunnen ontstaan.

Caring for and pruning your Canadian poplar

Zodra de stekken van populier wortels hebben ontwikkeld en beginnen uit te lopen, is zorgvuldig onderhoud essentieel om gezonde jonge bomen te krijgen. De stekken moeten in deze fase constant vochtig worden gehouden, zodat de wortels goed kunnen ontwikkelen en uitdroging wordt voorkomen. Direct zonlicht moet worden vermeden; een lichte, beschutte plek is ideaal om verbranding van jonge scheuten te voorkomen.

Where does a Canadian poplar grow

Prefers moist soils, but does not tolerate stagnant groundwater or fluctuating groundwater levels well. Generally tolerates wet conditions in winter (e.g. due to flooding) and also tolerates calcareous soils very well.


General

Origin
Alien
Tree Type Deciduous tree

Length and Age

Length in about 10 years 8 Up to 10 Meter
Reproductive Maturity in How Many Years 15 Up to 20 year
Maximum Age 100 Up to 150 year
Required Space 60 Up to 100m2
Growth Rate

Reproduction

Tree is Self-Pollinating No
Reproduction Method
Makes seedlings
Reproduction rate

Reproduction rate

1. Very low reproduction rate. The plant hardly spreads, has few seeds or vegetative spread (e.g., trees with heavy seeds).
2. Low reproduction rate. Spread via limited seed production or specific conditions required
3. Average reproduction rate. Regular spread, depending on wind, water, or animals, at a moderate speed (e.g., dandelion).
4. High reproduction rate. Many seeds and multiple spread strategies (wind, birds, vegetative). Quickly colonizes open spaces
5. Very high reproduction rate. Invasive species that spread explosively over large distances (e.g., Japanese knotweed).

Pruning Period

This Tree is Evergreen No
Summer No pruning in summer
Winter October tot February
Leaf Shapes Diamond-shaped
Easy to prune No

Bark Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Lenticels Yes
Colour

Bud Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Colour
Bud Position
Varied
Bud Shape
Pointed

Other

Root
Broad root system
Superficial rooting
Bloom
Has catkins
Wind sensitivity Not sensitive to (sea) wind

Diseases

Sensitive to the Following Diseases Information not available

Light requirement of the Canadian poplar

The Canadian poplar thrives best under these light conditions.
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade

    • Suitable soil types for the Canadian poplar

    In this overview, you can find which soil types are best for the Canadian poplar to grow.
    Soil type Suitability
    light clay
    heavy clay
    sand
    peatland
    Loam
    Moerig op zand
    Lichte zavel
    Zware zavel

    Humidity

    A (ground)water level indicates how deep the groundwater usually is below the surface. The higher the Roman numeral, the deeper the groundwater.
    I
    II
    III
    IV
    V
    VI
    VII
    VIII

    Suitable acidity level for the Canadian poplar

    Each soil type has a certain acidity level, measured in pH values. You can plant the Canadian poplar in soil that falls within this range:
    0.0
    0.5
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0

    Nutritional needs of the Canadian poplar

    Some soil types offer more nutritional richness than others.
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Very nutrient-poor soil
    2. Very nutrient-poor to nutrient-poor soil
    3. Nutrient-poor soil
    4. Nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich soil
    5. Moderately nutrient-rich soil
    6. Moderately nutrient-rich to nutrient-rich soil
    7. Nutrient-rich soil
    8. Extremely nutrient-rich soil
    9. Very extremely nutrient-rich soil

    Humidity

    Does Canadian poplar like to have its roots in extremely dry (1.0) or wet (9.0) soil?
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Extremely dry soils
    2. Extremely dry to dry soils
    3. Dry soils
    4. Dry to dry/moist soils
    5. Dry/moist soils
    6. Dry/moist to moist soils
    7. Moist soils
    8. Moist to wet soils
    9. Wet soils

    To be applied in landscapes

    0 = not filled in, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Landscape Suitability
    Agroforestry
    Hedge
    Hedge
    Forest
    Feeding hedge
    Back yard
    Small back yard
    Solitary
    Wood wall

    Cultural-historical value

    0 = not filled in, 1 = low, 9 = high

    Insects

    How many insects typically live on this tree/plant? 88
    Which insect groups live on this tree/plant?
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Hoverflies
    Beetles
    Wasps
    Mosquitoes
    Are there insects dependent on this species? No
    Which insect species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Birds

    Average number of birds per tree/plant? 50
    Which bird groups live on this tree/plant?
    Eurasian chaffinches
    fieldfares
    European robins
    common starlings
    Woodpeckers
    Common pheasants
    common golden orioles
    common linnets
    willow warblers
    common reed buntings
    common wood pigeons
    dunnocks
    Eurasian wrens
    Eurasian woodcocks
    stock doves

    Mammals

    Average number of mammals per tree/plant?
    Which mammal groups live on this tree/plant?
    Are there mammals dependent on this species? No
    Which mammal species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Bloom Period

    Summer March Up to April

    Tree Species

    Tree species that this tree prefers to grow with

    Suitable for mammals?

    toxic, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Mammal Suitability
    Beavers
    Badgers
    Squirrel
    Ferret
    Goat
    Herbivorous rodents
    Deer
    Dog
    Cat
    Chicken
    Cow
    Human
    Mouse
    Horse
    Roe deer
    Sheep
    Pig
    Foxes
    Wild boar

    Explanation

    Explanation

    Edibility

    • Toxic: This tree or shrub is toxic to mammals and absolutely unsuitable for consumption.
    1. Very unsuitable: This tree or shrub is unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can be harmful.
    2. Unsuitable: This tree or shrub is generally unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can have adverse effects.
    3. Moderately suitable: This tree or shrub is moderately suitable as food for mammals, possibly with certain risks or limitations.
    4. Suitable: This tree or shrub is generally suitable as food for mammals, with little to no risks.
    5. Very suitable: This tree or shrub is very suitable as food for mammals, safe, and of high nutritional value.


    Trunk Height

    Average Trunk Height (hg) of the basal area median tree

    from - to, in whole meters, average

    Information not available

    Trunk Diameter

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree.

    from - to, in whole centimeters, average

    Information not available

    Aboveground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Belowground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Substance Binder

    Which substances can be bound or absorbed?
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    Carbon Attraction (kf)

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree Deciduous Trees (Kf = 0,48)

    Warming Resistance

    This tree is well resistant to the warming (plus 3 degrees) of our climate and fits into the future of our climate (heat and drought resistant). No
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    CO2

    0. not filled in
    1. no storage
    2. low storage
    3. moderate storage
    4. high storage
    5. very high storage

    Fine Dust

    0. not filled in
    1. no capture capacity
    2. low capture capacity
    3. moderate capture capacity
    4. high capture capacity
    5. very high capture capacity

    This is what an adult tree Canadian poplar looks like

    A mature Canadian poplar tree
    Bark of the Canadian poplar
    Canadian poplar in winter time

    This is what a Canadian poplar in bloom looks like

    Catkins of the Canadian poplar

    This is what the bud of a Canadian poplar looks like

    Buds of the Canadia poplar

    This is what the leaf of a Canadian poplar looks like

    Leaf of the Canadian poplar