Poplars grow fast but do not live as long as most other trees. The numerous types of poplars include tall, stately trees that serve as protection from the wind on farmland and large, spreading trees with fluffy seeds. Certain types of poplars are known as aspens and cottonwoods. All are part of the scientific group called Populas. The poplars are closely related to the willows.

Where poplars grow

Poplars are found north of the equator, in many parts of North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The balsam poplar is a tree of northern North America. Cottonwood trees grow mostly in the United States. Many trees of the poplar group grow in moist, wooded areas or near wetlands, lakes, or streams.

Physical features

Poplars come in many shapes and sizes. At up to 200 feet (60 meters), the Western balsam poplar is one of North America's tallest trees apart from the evergreens. The well-known white poplar of Europe and Asia grows to 100 feet (30 meters). The Lombardy poplar of southern Europe grows in the shape of a tall, narrow column.

Cottonwoods and balsam poplars have sticky buds and dark, grooved bark. Aspens have white or gray bark and nonsticky buds. Long flower clusters appear on all poplars before the leaves are fully grown. The flowers develop capsules filled with tiny seeds packed in silky hairs. The cottonwood takes its name from its cottony seeds, which sometimes blanket the ground under the tree.

Poplar leaves can be oval, heart-shaped, or round with fuzzy undersides. Their color is light or dark green with lighter green or silvery undersides, depending on the type of tree. Poplar leaves flutter in the gentlest breeze. The quaking aspen of North America was named for its trembling leaves. The leaves of some poplars turn golden yellow in the fall.

Uses

Poplars have soft wood that is used to make crates, furniture, particle board, and paper. People also value poplars for their beauty and the shade they provide. Lombardy poplars are often planted in rows because of their impressive appearance. However, poplar root systems are always seeking moisture and have a way of clogging up water pipes and sewer lines. Poplars also have weak branches that can come crashing down on nearby buildings. In addition, they are more vulnerable to insect damage, disease, and rotting than many other trees.