Description

Leaves: Alternate; simple; 4" to 6" across; deciduous; usually 4-lobed; leaf base and tip flat, leaf shape very distinctive; entire margin; glabrous; bright green with nice yellow fall color; petiole 2" to 4" long; .

Twigs/buds: Twigs fairly stout; red-brown; pith divided into chambers.  Terminal buds about 1/2" long, covered with 2 duck-bill like scales; lateral buds much smaller.

Flowers/fruit: Perfect flowers, large, green-yellow,; appear in May or June after the leaves are open.  Fruit an aggregate of deciduous samaras; 2-1/2" to 3" long; held upright.

Bark: Dark green and smooth on young stems; becoming thick, ash-gray, furrowed, with rough ridges.

Wood: Very important; light yellow sapwood; light yellow to dark brown heartwood; even-textured; diffuse-porous; used for furniture, interior finish, boxes, pallets, crates, plywood, etc.; commonly available in lumber yards where it is usually called poplar.

General: Native to the southeastern U.S. as far north as southeast Missouri, and as far northeast as Vermont.  Not a true poplar.  Shade intolerant.

Landscape Use: Large tree that is not common in Utah but has been planted enough to have proven itself.  Has a good, strong, pyramidal habit and bright green, unusually shaped leaves, and nice fall color that make the tree very attractive.  The flowers and fruit are interesting but the seeds can be a messy.  Zones 4-9.

Cultivars: 'Ardis', 'Arnold', 'Aureomarginatum', 'Compactum', 'Emerald City', 'Fastigiatum', 'Integrifolium', 'Mediopictum'.

Characteristics