The Problem with Populus.

 The Problems with Populus.

So far in this blog I have been referring to the Poplar type trees I have planted as Aspen. I no longer believe this to be the case. Like all poplars they strike easily from cuttings, whips or the longer setts. I acquired the original setts from a friend's garden. He had a large garden and had planted a small arboretum. When he was selling to a developer they suggested felling most in case they got a Tree Preservation Order on them. That would have been highly unlikely and illogical but trying to guess what Newark and Sherwood planning department would do is a mugs game. I thought I collected some coppice regrowth from a Balsamic Poplar.

Large leaf with flattened petiole

The setts took readily at Cairn Wood, and it was quickly apparent they were not Balsamic, I assumed they were a poplar hybrid. To have any value as a timber tree Poplars need to be totally branch free and need cleaning yearly. Some prunings were used as cuttings at Pit wood, particularly in 2013 when flooding increased the area planted with waterlogging tolerant trees. Some time later I noticed that the leaf petioles (stalks) had a flattened cross section. The only tree where a flattened petiole is a diagnostic feature is the Aspen, the European Populus tremula or North American Populus tremuloides. The flattened petioles causing the trembling in the lightest of breezes. I lazily assumed I had Aspen.

Poplar suckers 

September 8th 2022 saw the Royal Forestry Society  Notts and Lincs branch visit the woods. Members said they were not Aspen. They did not produce sufficient suckers and the leaves were much too big and not round enough. It was thought most likely to be the hybrid Beaupre a cross between a Black Cottonwood Poplar Populus trichocarpa and the Eastern Cottonwood Populus deltoides. My Poplar has the large pointed delta shaped leaves of the American cottonwoods. It has the vigour associated with the variety Beaupre. I will assume that is what it is, until something changes my mind! It had not produced any suckers until I pollarded the area for P22 planting. The pollards have coppiced vigorously from the whole stump providing shelter and too much shade. They have also produced numerous suckers and the stumps will need to be removed and treated. The suckers will also need spraying off. The growth rates for it have been very good, volume wise it is almost up with some Eucalypts but it is a much lighter wood. 

Poplar rust.

 An other problem that has just arisen particularly with the regenerating stumps is rust. Poplars are prone to a leaf rust. This has not been an issue while the only poplar leaves were some 20feet or more above the ground. Walking through the poplar stumps in September every stich of clothing becomes yellow. The trees do not suffer unduly, it is just very annoying!

For reference the picture on the left is what Aspen leaves should look like. Not for the first time making an assumption on partial information and not bothering to check, has led me up the Garden path. At least I am in good company. Linnaeus tried to classify all plants based on one characteristic the flower!