Description

Leaves: Dark-green to bluish-green on top, hairy when young, pale below; similar to P. balsamifera, but broader, hairier, and with a heart-shaped base; 2-1/2" to 6" long; pointed, finely toothed; deciduous.

Twigs/buds: Twigs reddish brown and slightly hairy when young.  Buds reddish, egg-shaped, resinous, and fragrant.

Flowers/fruit: Flowers borne in catkins up to 6" long, occur before leaves.  Fruit borne in capsules in catkins similar to P. balsamifera and P. deltoides.

Bark: Grayish-brown, can be somewhat orange; furrowed with age.

Wood: Presumably similar to eastern cottonwood (P. deltoides) and balsam poplar (P. balsamifera): heartwood grayish-white to lighter brown; sapwood whitish; relatively straight-grained with uniform texture; odorless when dried.

General: Balm-of-Gilead is somewhat similar to balsam poplar (P. balsamifera); it is of confusing origin.  Has escaped from cultivation in eastern North America and can now be found growing near roads and streams.  Often referred to as Populus x gileadensis, a hybrid of P. deltoides and P. balsamifera, though Rehder calls it a separate species.  Large, up to 100' in height, with a trunk diameter up to 6-1/2', and fast growing.  Has many problems; weak wood and/or branch structure.  Prefers abundant water. Zones 4-9.

Landscape Use: Has been planted quite a bit in Utah, especially in the south.  Generally should be avoided, though limited use in specific situations may be justified.

Cultivars: 'Prairie Sky' – Narrow, single-stemmed tree. A male tree. Leaves are glossy green and triangular.
'Robusta' – Broad oval shape, vigorous grower.
'Eugeni' – Columnar habit with short lateral branches.

Characteristics