Populus tremuloides
Quaking Aspen
Mature Size, Growth, Longevity
Average mature size of 40' to 50' tall and 20' to 30' wide. Narrow, conical in youth maturing into a rounded crown; forms colonies. Rapid growing tree. Individual stems average 60-100 years, but a clonal grove may persist thousands of years.
Native Range
U.S. Native — The most widely distributed tree in North America.
Flower and Fruit Details
Flowers are silvery catkins, in early spring.
Leaf and Bark Features
Deciduous: Leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to orbicular, flattened petiole. They will flutter in the slightest breeze. Golden yellow fall color. Bark smooth, greenish-white to white depending on provenance.
Culture and Care
Indifferent as to soil conditions. In native habitat, can be found on moist, loamy sands to shallow rocky soils and clay. Disease and insect problems vary widely throughout native range. Succeptible to many insects and diseases, but use of local genotypes lessens severity.
Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts
Resistant to breakage.
Suggested Uses
Use for naturalization, pulpwood, lumber; accent and specimen use in Rocky Mountain areas. Ideal for acerages and alpine settings.
Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA
The following taxa are (or were) represented in the collections at Boone County Arboretum. Additional taxa may be available in the trade that are not included here.
Populus tremuloides // Quaking Aspen ("straight species")
Tree.
-- not currently in our collection --Populus tremuloides 'NE Arb' // Prairie Gold® Aspen
Tree. Narrow, oval to pyramidal form, average mature size 35-40' tall and 20-30' wide. Smooth, creamy-white bark. Improved disease and heat resistance. Discovered by Allen Wilke, Columbus, Nebraska in 1970s. The range of this cultivar still being evaluated.
BT001158 - BT001159 - BT001161 - BT001362Populus tremuloides var. tremuloides // Quaking Aspen (Batesville, IN Provenance, near I-74)
Tree.
BT002103Populus tremuloides f. visalia // Quaking Aspen (Visalia, KY Provenance)
Tree.
BT001904