Grey poplar tree
General characteristics of a Grey poplar tree
The grey poplar is sometimes considered a cross between the white poplar (Populus alba) and the aspen (Populus tremula). The plant is native to Asia Minor and Southern and Central Europe.
Like the white Poplar, the grey poplar is dioecious. This means there are male and female trees. It flowers in February before the leaves appear. Female drooping catkins are greenish-grey-brown. The male ones consist of 8 to 15 purplish-red stamens. After the pollen is blown away, they fall off. The females remain in the tree until May. Then the seed pods open, releasing the seeds covered in downy fluff. The long shoots bear triangular leaves up to 7 cm in size. The upper side is glossy green, the underside a matte light brownish-green. The smaller leaves on the short shoots are somewhat rounder than those of the White Poplar.
Characteristics
How to plant a Grey poplar tree
Dig the planting hole one-third deeper and wider than the roots. Place the seedling in the hole, keeping it slightly higher than the final planting depth, rather than right at the bottom of the hole. The root collar should eventually be at the boundary between the soil and the air. Some trees also have ridges on the root collar, which makes this easier. When placing the tree in the hole, keep it stable. The roots should not point upward or twist during planting, otherwise the tree will become unstable or could strangle itself. Also, spread the roots as much as possible. This gives the roots sufficient rooting space.
Fill the hole with moist, loose soil. Make sure the soil touching the root hairs (the roots thinner than 1 millimeter) is well crumbled. Shake the tree slightly up and down so that the soil reaches between the root hairs.
Place about 10 centimeters of soil above the root hairs and press it lightly with your foot, ensuring the roots have good contact with the soil moisture.
For detailed planting instructions, see the planting guide on our website.
If you have 1-3 meter long cuttings, plant them as deep as possible, 40-60 cm into the ground, preferably until the soil is moist; ideally, plant them from mid-February to the end of March. There's less chance of them taking root in November/December.
How to harvest a Grey poplar tree
Insert the spade diagonally into the soil about 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 inches) from the trunk. Carefully work around the seedling, inserting the spade in a circular motion. Use the spade as leverage to gently loosen the seedling, trying to keep as much of the root system intact as possible. Finally, lift the seedling out of the soil with both hands to avoid damaging the roots.
Caring for and pruning your Grey poplar tree
Like other poplars, the grey poplar often suffers from broken branches later in life. Removing overloaded branches in time can help prevent this to some extent.
Where does a Grey poplar tree grow
The grey poplar thrives in soil that is not too moist, somewhat nutrient-rich, and preferably calcareous. It can be found in drier, somewhat poorer sandy soil, but also in river valleys, damp dunes, and forests. It is often planted to provide some protection to flat land. It has proven to be quite resistant to sea winds.
General
| Origin |
Native
|
| Tree Type | Deciduous tree |
Length and Age
| Length in about 10 years | 20 Up to 30 Meter |
| Reproductive Maturity in How Many Years | 0 Up to 16 year |
| Maximum Age | 150 Up to 250 year |
| Required Space | Up to m2 |
| Growth Rate |
Reproduction
| Tree is Self-Pollinating | Yes |
| Reproduction Method |
Makes root suckers
Makes root shoots
|
| 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 | Yes |
| Summer | No pruning in summer |
| Winter | October tot February |
| Leaf Shapes | Diamond-shaped |
| Easy to prune | Yes |
Bark Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)
| Lenticels | Yes |
| Colour |
Bud Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)
| Colour | |
| Bud Position |
Varied
|
| Bud Shape |
Fusiform
|
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 |
Harvest/recognition in winter
The buds are reddish-brown and hairy only at the base. Terminal buds are larger than the lateral buds. The 7-8 cm large, triangular to rounded, coarsely serrated leaves are arranged alternately.
Light requirement of the Grey poplar tree
Suitable soil types for the Grey poplar tree
| Soil type | Suitability |
|---|---|
| light clay |
|
| heavy clay |
|
| sand |
|
| peatland |
|
| Loam |
|
| Moerig op zand |
|
| Lichte zavel |
|
| Zware zavel |
|
Humidity
Suitable acidity level for the Grey poplar tree
Nutritional needs of the Grey poplar tree
| 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
| 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
| Landscape | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Agroforestry |
|
| Hedge |
|
| Hedge |
|
| Forest |
|
| Feeding hedge |
|
| Back yard |
|
| Small back yard |
|
| Solitary |
|
| Wood wall |
|
Cultural-historical value
Insects
| How many insects typically live on this tree/plant? | 189 |
| Which insect groups live on this tree/plant? |
Butterflies
Beetles
Lice
|
| 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? | |
| Which bird groups live on this tree/plant? |
Eurasian chaffinches
European robins
Common pheasants
common linnets
willow warblers
common whitethroats
common reed buntings
common wood pigeons
dunnocks
spotted flycatchers
Eurasian wrens
Eurasian woodcocks
|
Mammals
| Average number of mammals per tree/plant? | |
| Which mammal groups live on this tree/plant? |
Squirrels
deer
Beavers
foxes
|
| Are there mammals dependent on this species? | No |
| Which mammal species are dependent on this tree/plant? |
Squirrel
Deer
Beavers
Foxes
|
Bloom Period
| Summer | February Up to March |
Tree Species
| Tree species that this tree prefers to grow with |
|
Suitable for mammals?
| Mammal | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Beavers |
|
| Badgers |
|
| Squirrel |
|
| Ferret |
|
| Wild boar |
|
| Foxes |
|
| Human |
|
| Mouse |
|
| Horse |
|
| Roe deer |
|
| Sheep |
|
| Pig |
|
| Goat |
|
| Herbivorous rodents |
|
| Deer |
|
| Dog |
|
| Cat |
|
| Chicken |
|
| Cow |
|
Explanation
Explanation
Edibility
- Toxic: This tree or shrub is toxic to mammals and absolutely unsuitable for consumption.
- Very unsuitable: This tree or shrub is unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can be harmful.
- Unsuitable: This tree or shrub is generally unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can have adverse effects.
- Moderately suitable: This tree or shrub is moderately suitable as food for mammals, possibly with certain risks or limitations.
- Suitable: This tree or shrub is generally suitable as food for mammals, with little to no risks.
- 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
| After 10 year | m | m |
| After 20 year | m | m |
| After 30 year | m | m |
| After 80 year | m | m |
Trunk Diameter
(dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree.
| After 10 year | cm | cm |
| After 20 year | cm | cm |
| After 30 year | cm | cm |
| After 80 year | cm | cm |
Aboveground Biomass
in whole kg| After 10 year | 0 cm | cm |
| After 20 year | cm | cm |
| After 30 year | cm | cm |
| After 80 year | cm | cm |
Belowground Biomass
in whole kg| After 10 year | cm | cm |
| After 20 year | cm | cm |
| After 30 year | cm | cm |
| After 80 year | cm | cm |
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
| 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 Grey poplar tree looks like
This is what a Grey poplar tree in bloom looks like
This is what the bud of a Grey poplar tree looks like
This is what the leaf of a Grey poplar tree looks like
