Quaking Aspen

Populus tremuloides

The Quaking Aspen, scientifically known as Populus tremuloides, is a fascinating and iconic tree found in North America. Here's some information about it:

1. Appearance: Quaking Aspens are medium-sized deciduous trees that typically grow to about 20-80 feet (6-24 meters) tall. They have smooth, white or grayish bark with black scars from fallen branches. One of the most distinctive features of the Quaking Aspen is its leaves, which are small, round, and have flattened petioles that cause them to tremble or "quake" in the slightest breeze.

2. Leaves: The leaves of the Quaking Aspen are typically light green in color and are roughly circular with finely serrated edges. They are attached to long, flattened leaf stalks that allow them to flutter and create a beautiful shimmering effect in the wind.

3. Habitat: Quaking Aspens are widely distributed across North America, particularly in cooler regions. They are often found in groves or stands, as they have a unique ability to reproduce through root sprouting, creating genetically identical clones that share a common root system.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  High Maintenance.  Aspen are susceptible to a large number of diseases and prone to premature leaf droppage when stressed.  Susceptible to dieback, leaf spots, rusts, powdery mildew and cankers. Common pests include caterpillars, borers, aphids and scale.

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Wildlife Garden, Naturalized Areas, and Shade Tree.

COMPANION PLANTS: Creeping Phlox, Yew, Dwarf Lilac

IMAGES: Daniel Dumais, 2005-09-16 MEL 0 PET (02) DDumais, CC BY-SA 4.0, (2) Photo by James St. John, Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen) (Rocky Mountains National Park, Colorado, USA) 6, (3) Photo by Zion National Park, Quaking Aspen, (4) Photo by Bernard Spragg. NZ, The Aspens Fish Creek Calgary, (5) Photo by Mitch Barrie, Lundy Lake overnight

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.