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White poplar

It is the whitest tree in the landscape and from a distance it can appear covered in snow because of the white wool on the leaves and shoots.

What other names does it have?

Can also be known as	Abel Abele
Generic name	Poplar
Latin name	Populus alba
Family name	Willow
Latin family name	Saliceceae

What type of tree is it?

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a broadleaf
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	Yes, it is deciduous

Species description:

Average height	15-20m

Leaf

Description	Most leaves are five lobed with some irregular teeth around the edge. The hair underneath is bright white and woolly. When the new leaves unfold they also have hair on top but this is quickly lost
Shape	Lobed
Colour	Dark grey-green on top and whitish underneath
Colour of leaves in autumn	Bright yellow
Leaf bud	White and woolly
Leaf stalk	Short stalk
Leaf arrangement	Alternate

Flower, seed, and fruit

Type of flower	Catkin
Type of seed body	Catkin
Seeds dispersed by	Wind

Bark and twig

Bark description	Pale grey in colour and pitted with lines of black diamonds
Twig Description	The twigs are white, with a close wool that lasts all winter

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Non-native - naturalised
Where is its natural range?	Central and southern Europe to Siberia and round the Mediterranean. Possibly Britain although this is debated
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	Can be found in parks, on roadsides and coastal areas.
What is its British conservation status?	Rare

Additional information

Human uses of tree and timber	It has been widely planted as a shelter belt tree (to give cover from the wind) as it produces suckers (new trees that grow up from the roots of the existing tree). These young suckers give good ground cover.
Tree lore and folklore	The origin of this tree is debated, it was widely thought to be non-native however references to 'abel' trees in historic documents indicate it has been here much longer than previously thought and so it could be native

White poplar

White poplar leaves

White poplar bark

Illustrations supplied by
Collins

BritishTrees

©2013 The Woodland Trust