Poplar (Black)

Do you want to plant a Poplar (Black)? Here you will find all the information you need on how to best plant the Poplar (Black), and on pruning and caring for your Poplar (Black).
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General characteristics of a Poplar (Black)

Black poplar is a species that closely resembles the much better known Canadian poplar. This makes sense, as the Canadian poplar is a hybrid between the black poplar and the North American species Populus deltoides. Some of these hybrids were backcrossed, resulting in Canadian poplars that have a lot in common with black poplar. Black poplar can be recognised by its diamond-shaped leaves without glands at the base. The twigs of black poplar are rather round. The twigs of the Canadian poplar are usually angular and sometimes have one or two glands at the base of the leaf. The leaf shape of the Canadian poplar is more triangular but can also be somewhat diamond-shaped. The tree flowers with red male catkins and green female catkins.

Black poplar is one of the most endangered tree species in Europe.

Characteristics


How to plant a Poplar (Black)

Usually supplied as 1-3 m long “slips” that root themselves; plant as deep as possible, 40-60 cm into the ground, preferably to soil moisture; and preferably from mid-February to the end of March. Less chance of taking root in November/December; or seedlings.

How to harvest a Poplar (Black)

Can be propagated by layering; but sometimes also self-seeds.

Where does a Poplar (Black) grow

Black poplar occurs naturally in the floodplain forests along major rivers. It is a tree species that prefers slightly acidic to neutral, nutrient-rich, wet, sandy to clayey or river gravel-containing soils. It tolerates periodic flooding very well, provided that the soil remains sufficiently loose and oxygen-rich. It is believed that humans have almost completely displaced it from its natural valley habitat since the 18th century due to the emergence of Canadian poplars (hybrids with its American relative Populus deltoides).

The black poplar is a typical species of softwood forests (willow floodplain forests) and hardwood forests. Floodplain forests are forests that occur along dynamic rivers and flood regularly. However, all natural populations along our major rivers have disappeared, with only a few isolated trees remaining here and there. The natural habitat of this species was our major rivers such as the IJzer, the Scheldt, the Dijle and the Meuse.


General

Origin
Native
Tree Type Deciduous tree

Length and Age

Length in about 10 years 15 Up to 20 Meter
Reproductive Maturity in How Many Years 30 Up to 100 year
Maximum Age 100 Up to 150 year
Required Space Up to m2
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
Bloom
Has catkins
Wind sensitivity Not sensitive to (sea) wind

Diseases

Sensitive to the Following Diseases Information not available

Harvest/recognition in winter

Mature tree with large, deeply grooved bark; seedlings are extremely thin and long with brown, sharp buds.

The yellow-grey twigs are round and smooth and have sticky, reddish buds. In spring, we find pointed buds with bud scales that are slightly sticky and give off a pleasant scent.

Light requirement of the Poplar (Black)

The Poplar (Black) thrives best under these light conditions.
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade

    • Suitable soil types for the Poplar (Black)

    In this overview, you can find which soil types are best for the Poplar (Black) 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 Poplar (Black)

    Each soil type has a certain acidity level, measured in pH values. You can plant the Poplar (Black) 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 Poplar (Black)

    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 Poplar (Black) 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?
    Butterflies
    Are there insects dependent on this species? No
    Which insect species are dependent on this tree/plant?
    European stag beetle
    Lesser Purple Emperor
    Poplar Admiral

    Birds

    Average number of birds per tree/plant?
    Which bird groups live on this tree/plant?

    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 Poplar (Black) looks like

    Bark of the black poplar
    A mature black poplar tree
    Black poplar in winter

    This is what a Poplar (Black) in bloom looks like

    Black poplar in bloom

    This is what the bud of a Poplar (Black) looks like

    Bud of the black poplar

    This is what the leaf of a Poplar (Black) looks like

    Leaf of the black poplar