Populus alba: Country Or Region Of Origin
Europe, central Asia
Plant Profile: Populus alba
Taxonomy: Populus albaNames
Phonetic Spelling:POP-yoo-lus AL-ba
Genus:Populus
Species:alba
Family:Salicaceae
A vigorous tree species native to Europe, it has become established in North Carolina, particularly in areas like roadsides and abandoned lots. This tree typically propagates through root suckers that emerge around the base of the parent tree.
Tags
#tree
#aggressive
Similar Plants
Populus alba Feature Summary
Attributes
Fruit
Capsules filled with small, downy seeds that are easily carried on the wind.
Capsule
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Flowers
Separate male and female inflorescences, the female as small as 1.5 mm and the male over 2 in long.
Catkin
1-3 inches
Leaves
Large, 3 to 5-lobed leaves with white, wooly undersides and a coarsely-toothed margin. Petioles are also wooly.
Deciduous
Green
White
Simple
Alternate
Elliptical
Ovate
Oblong
Lobed
Dentate
Sinuate
3-6 inches
Soft
3-6 inches
Bark
Prominent and light grey.
Light Gray
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
more than 60 feet
24-60 feet
Stem
Hairy
Landscape
Weedy
Populus alba Image Gallery
Populus alba Attributes
Populus alba: Distribution
Naturalized in NC
Populus alba: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Populus alba Fruit
Populus alba: Fruit Description
Capsules filled with small, downy seeds that are easily carried on the wind.
Populus alba: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Populus alba: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Populus alba: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Populus alba Flowers
Populus alba: Flower Description
Separate male and female inflorescences, the female as small as 1.5 mm and the male over 2 in long.
Populus alba: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Populus alba: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Populus alba Leaves
Populus alba: Leaf Description
Large, 3 to 5-lobed leaves with white, wooly undersides and a coarsely-toothed margin. Petioles are also wooly.
Populus alba: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Populus alba: Leaf Color
Green
White
Populus alba: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Populus alba: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Populus alba: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Populus alba: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Populus alba: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Populus alba: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Populus alba: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Populus alba: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Populus alba Bark
Populus alba: Bark Description
Prominent and light grey.
Populus alba: Bark Color
Light Gray
Populus alba Whole Plant Traits
Populus alba: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Populus alba: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Populus alba: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Populus alba Cultural Conditions
Populus alba: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Populus alba Stem
Populus alba: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Populus alba: Stem Buds
Hairy
Hairy tips
Scaly
Smooth/Hairless
Populus alba Landscape
Populus alba: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
