Aspen, Upright European or Swedish
Populus tremula 'Erecta'
Salicaceae - Willow
Description
Leaves: Simple; alternate; round to broadly ovate; 1-1/2" to 3" long and wide; deciduous; margin with rounded teeth; acute apex; glabrous; dark green above, waxy and lighter colored below, turning bright yellow in fall; petiole 1-1/2" to 3" long, flattened laterally, causing leaf to flutter in the wind.
Twigs/buds: Twigs slender; glabrous; green at first, turing brown; held strongly upright. Buds similar to quaking aspen.
Flowers/fruit: Dioecious; 'Erecta' is said to be seedless (male). Similar to quaking aspen.
Bark: Smooth; white to cream colored.
Wood: No information available; presumably similar to quaking aspen.
General: Native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa; not Utah. Very shade intolerant. May be insect and/or disease prone, especially when stressed. Sucker (sprout) growth can be a problem.
Landscape Use: Not very commonly planted in Utah; a better choice than Lombardy poplar when a narrow canopyed tree is desired, since it is less disease-prone. I have seen this planted on a parking strip in Salt Lake City doing well and not suffering the way quaking aspen would be in the same setting, with no signs of sucker sprouts. However, I have read that it does sprout. Tolerant of a wide variety of soil and environmental conditions, though avoid extreme heat. 'Erecta' will get 30' to 60' tall but stays very narrow (less than 10' wide). Zones 2-6.
Cultivar: 'Pendula', 'Pyramidalis', 'Tower'.
Characteristics
General
Family | Salicaceae - Willow |
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Cultivar Availability | Yes |
Hardiness Zone | 2-7 |
Type | Broadleaf |
Utah Native | No |
Growth
Growth Rate | Medium |
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Mature Height | High |
Longevity | Medium |
Is Good Under Power Lines | No |
Crown Shapes | Columnar |
Ornamental
Bark | Yes |
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Fall Color | Yes |
Flowers | No |
Foliage | Yes |
Fruit | No |
Tolerance
Shade | Low |
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Salt | High |
Drought | Medium |
Poor Drainage | Medium |
Alkalinity | High |
Transplanting | High |