the White poplar
Populus alba
A common tree that can grow up to 25 meter high.
It has a white bark with dark square holes in it.
The leaves are white on the underside.
The white poplar has female (staminate) or male
(pistillate) flowers. All reproduction occurs
by root sprouts. Other varieties are the aspen
(P. tremula), grey poplar (P. canescens), and
black poplar (P. nigra).
White poplar distribution
As the white poplar is not very sensitiv for salt it
is capable to grow in the near of the sea.
But it can can also be found on poor grounds
like dunes.
The female flowers of the white poplar
are yellow-green.
The white poplar gives good shade.
The use of White poplar
The White poplar is not a good street tree
as it has brittle wood and becomes too high.
But it is very resistant against oil and
salt pollution.
Cultivars
The most used cultivar is the populus alba "Bolleana",
with a straight trunc.
Populus alba "pendula" is the wheeping white poplar.
The grey poplar is a hybrid.
Firewood
White poplar is brittle and a bad fire wood,
it also produces smoke.
Aspen or poplars
A family of large trees that produce a
special sounds, caused by their flattened
leaf stems: this make the leaves to twist
and flutter in slight breezes.
- White Poplar(Populus alba)Asia and around the Miditarean Sea
- Chinese Aspen (Populus adenopoda) : China
- Japanese Aspen (Populus sieboldii): Japan
- Poplar (Populus tremula) : Europe
- Quaking American Aspen (Populus tremuloides): USA
- Grey Poplar a hybrid.
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The leaves of the white poplar have a
white underside. In strongwinds the tree
can suddenly change of color,
from green to white, a strange sight.
The white poplar can grow up to 30 meters high,
but remains often much smaller.
The White poplar is often grown as
windbreaks in commercial orchards.
The bark of the white poplar has
dark squares in it.
The leaves of the white poplar
are dark green on the upperside and almost.
white on the underside.
Firewood
This list gives an indication of the quality as a firewood
Alder fastburning, good firewood.
Birch good , but burns fast
Horse chestnut bad quality firewood, hard to ignite.
Beech very good, but need to be very dry.
Oak very good
Lime good.
Ashvery good firewood
Mulberry very good , but hard to get
monkey puzzle woodbad firewood, don't use it
White poplar smokes, bad firewood
Black locust or Robiniavery good and exspensive.
Walnut good , but hard to get
Yew good.
Larch bad firewood.
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