Fauna
Plant

White Poplar

Populus alba

Also known as Silver Poplar, Silverleaf Poplar, Abele

White poplars stand out in moist river valleys and open spaces, recognized by the stark white, felted down coating the undersides of their leaves. Wind rustling through the canopy creates a flickering silver and green shimmer visible from a great distance. Their aggressive root suckers frequently give rise to dense clonal groves, anchored deep in alluvial soil.

TreeDeciduousWind-Pollinated
White Poplar reference1 / 7
(c) Mike B, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Mike B · cc-by-sa
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotroph (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Poplar Borer
  • Gypsy Moth
  • Beavers
ThreatsFungal cankers, trunk rot, habitat loss in native range
HabitatsRiparian corridors, floodplains, lake margins, roadsides
Life span70–150 years
Classification
  1. OrderMalpighiales
  2. FamilySalicaceae
  3. GenusPopulus
  4. SpeciesPopulus alba
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Leaf inspection: Flip a leaf over to feel the dense, woolly felt on the pale lower surface.
  • Spring catkins: Look for long, drooping catkins appearing early in spring before leaves emerge.
  • Clonal shoots: Search the ground around older trunks for young saplings sprouting directly from roots.
Related species
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