Poplar, Lombardy
Populus nigra 'Italica'
Salicaceae - Willow
Description
See also Eastern Cottonwood description and illustrations.
Leaves: Similar to eastern cottonwood.
Twigs/buds: Twigs brown, shiny; thin, and round; tips often hairy. Buds reddish-brown, hairless, shiny; relatively small, appressed, and gummy; lower scales often hairy.
Flowers/fruit: Flowers are male catkins, 1" to 2" in length, with crimson anthers; occur before leaves. Fruitless.
Bark: Grayish-green and smooth when young; darker gray, fissured, and rough with age.
Wood: Weak, prone to breakage; soft, light, and not durable; little information available.
General: Native to western Asia and eastern Europe, but heavily planted in Utah, especially in the past. A sterile clone of Populus nigra. May be insect and/or disease prone, especially when stressed. Prefers abundant water. Rarely should be planted, though limited use in specific situations may be justified.
Landscape Use: Once popular in Utah because of its narrow canopy and upright form. However, stressed trees weaken and die quickly (within 5 to 15 years) due to stem cankers. Twigs break off in wind storms. Fall color occasionally nice in Utah. Grows fast, short-lived. Should be planted less, if at all. Zones 3-9.
Cultivars: 'Afghanica', 'Charkowensis', 'Fastigiata', 'Gigantea', 'Lombardy Gold', 'Majestic', 'Pyramidalis', 'Thevestina'.
Characteristics
General
Family | Salicaceae - Willow |
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Cultivar Availability | Yes |
Hardiness Zone | 3-9 |
Type | Broadleaf |
Utah Native | No |
Growth
Growth Rate | High |
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Mature Height | High |
Longevity | Low |
Is Good Under Power Lines | No |
Crown Shapes | Columnar |
Ornamental
Bark | No |
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Fall Color | Yes |
Flowers | No |
Foliage | No |
Fruit | No |
Tolerance
Shade | Low |
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Salt | High |
Drought | Low |
Poor Drainage | Medium |
Alkalinity | High |
Transplanting | High |