Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera)
Slender large tree growing to 25m. The catkins appear before the leaves. The crown is conical or ovate. The buds are covered with pleasantly scented yellow resin.
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Appearance
Slender large tree growing to 25m. The catkins appear before the leaves. The crown is conical or ovate. The buds are covered with pleasantly scented yellow resin.
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Leaves
Ovate, tough-skinned, 5-12cm long, 3-10cm wide, leaf stem 3-5cm long. Serrated edge. Leaves are dark green above, whitish or yellowish below, turn yellow in autumn.
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Fruits
Leathery 2-lobed capsule, woolly-white seed 1-1.5mm long.
Application
Open country, pioneer tree, stabilization of shores, wind-break, forage for honey-bees, public areas, parks, roadside verges
Native regions
Western North America, Eastern North America
Location parameters
Light: sunny to semi-shady, temperature: cool soil: fresh to moist, soil structure: heavy to airy, soil depth: shallow, soil quality: low to medium, pH value: 6.5 to 8.0
Demands
Sun; likes cool, moist locations, frost-hardy, in fresh to moist soils, nutrient-rich, sandy, loamy or gravelly
Growth
Height of growth: 20m to 30m, spread: 8m to 10m, moderately rapid growth potential, growth habits: slender, loose, irregular, upright, central leader
Leaves
Ovate, tough-skinned, 5-12cm long, 3-10cm wide, leaf stem 3-5cm long. Serrated edge. Leaves are dark green above, whitish or yellowish below, turn yellow in autumn.
Flowers
Flowering period III-IV, yellow-green catkins appear before the leaves, up to 9cm long.
Fruits
Leathery 2-lobed capsule, woolly-white seed 1-1.5mm long.
Bark
Dark green or silvery bark with deep furrows. Branches are red-brown or grey-orange.
Roots
Surface-rooting, expansive root system