A poplar tree symbolizes great strength, endurance and conquest. The poplar trees are of the
populus genus and belong to the
salicaceae family. The genus includes the balsam poplar (
Populus balsamifera), aspen or the white poplar (
Populus alba), the gray poplar (
Populus canescens), the black poplar (
Populus nigra), and the cottonwood (
Populus deltoides). Many a time, people misidentify the yellow poplar tree (
tulip poplar tree) as the white poplar tree, but actually the yellow poplar does not really belong to the poplar family. The tulip poplar belongs to the magnolia family and is one of the most stately trees found in the U.S. The yellow poplar is the state tree of Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. With the large number of members in the poplar family, it's difficult to identify the correct tree. The leaves of each tree can help you with correct poplar tree identification. Here's some more on that aspect.
| Poplar Tree Identification by Leaf |
| The Balsam Poplar Leaf (Populus Balsamifera) |
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The leaves of this tree are egg-shaped and thick. They are dark green above and pale green beneath. The tip of the leaf is pointed and edges are finely toothed. There is a whitish waxy coating on the underside of the leaf. These trees are also identified by the pleasant balsam scent of the opening buds. The unique scent is also how the tree derives its name the balsam poplar tree. These trees need a lot of sunlight, to be able to retain the considerable amount of moisture, but they can tolerate very cold climatic conditions as well. The balsam poplar is a native of the eastern and northern areas of the United States. |
| The White Poplar Leaf (Populus Alba) |
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This tree is also called the Silver poplar, Silver-leaf poplar and Abele. The leaves of this tree are oval to five-lobed in shape and wavy at the edges. They have a shiny dark green color on their upper side and a dense white color below. This white coating stays until autumn, when the tree sheds its leaves, hence the name white poplar tree. The trunk of the white poplar tree has grayish-white diamond-shaped marks on a young tree, which turn black as the tree grows old. These are some of the distinguishing features of the white poplar tree identification. The white poplar is a native of Spain and Morocco. |
| The Gray Poplar Leaf (Populus Canescens) |
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The leaves of this tree are roundish triangular-shaped with a point at the apex and have woolly grayish undersides. That's how the tree gets its name the gray poplar tree. The margins of the leaves of this poplar tree are coarse and irregularly toothed. It is one of the fastest growing trees marked with a lot of vigor, reaching a height of 40 meters, and the truck of the tree measuring 1.5 meters. It is native to the Europe and not the US, but has been introduced and naturalized everywhere now.
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| The Black Poplar Leaf (Populus Nigra) |
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This tree has diamond-shaped or triangular-shaped leaves. They are green on both sides and coarse at the edges. The leaf veins and shoots are finely covered with soft hair. The bark of the tree is grayish brown which appears blackish, and so the name the black poplar tree. This tree is native to Europe. They have clusters of erect branches which often appear as a single column, and look absolutely beautiful.
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| The Cottonwood Leaf (Populus Deltoides) |
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This is one of the largest North American hardwood trees. They have deltoid (triangular) broad base leaves. The edges are coarse and curved, the petiole is flat and the apex is pointed. These leaves are dark green in summer and turn yellow in the fall. The stem of the leaf is flat and so, even the slightest breeze can cause its foliage to rustle. This is one of the major characteristics of this cottonwood tree. They are the tallest broad-leaf trees that grow over 100 feet, but have short life spans like all poplars.
• The Balmville Tree is the oldest cottonwood in the United States. |
| The Yellow Poplar Leaf (Liriodendron) |
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To start with, the yellow poplar does not belong to the poplar family, nor does it share any relation with the tulip flower. It is so named due its greenish-yellow hardwood and attractive tulip-like flowers. The yellow poplar is also known as the tulip tree, tulip poplar tree or yellow poplar tree. The leaves of this tree are easily recognizable as they have four large lobes often flattened into a square at the end, the apex cut across at shoal angle and have primary prominent veins. The leaves have a smooth and shiny bright green coating, but in autumn, the tree wears a bright yellow color and stands out among the green-colored leaves of the other trees, hence, making it easy to identify the tree. The other distinguishing factor being the tulip shaped flowers; yellowish-green in color with orange bands near the base. This tree is one of the largest native trees found in the United States.
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Here are some more interesting facts about the poplar tree, allow me to share them with you. Poplar trees are a fast growing but relatively short-lived species. You will find them stretching all over North America through Eurasia and northern Africa. A few species extend beyond the Arctic circle as well. The slightest breeze can cause the leaves of the poplar tree to tremble. They are strong, narrow and tall, so they look attractive when planted along the country driveways.
Populus wood is lighter and porous, hence, it is widely used for making paper. Since, these trees are fast-growing and tall, they are often used as residential shade trees, along driveways and as windbreakers around commercial orchards. Recently, poplar wood is widely used in making musical instruments, like the body of guitars, violas and drums.
A truly valuable tree indeed. The above factors will make poplar tree identification easy, the next time you see one. Also you will not get confused about the white poplar tree and yellow poplar tree being the same. I end this article with a beautiful quote about trees;
You will find something far greater in woods than you will in books. Stones and trees will teach you that which you will never learn from masters. - St. Bernard
