East facing, north facing, south facing, west facing
Soil
Acidic / Chalky / Alkaline / Clay / Heavy / Moist
Populus alba, or white poplar, is a large, very fast-growing deciduous tree. The young twigs and leaves are all covered in downy white hair, which can give it the impression that the tree is covered in snow. The rounded leaves are dark green on top and white and hairy underneath. They look particularly striking on a breezy day against a blue sky.
In spring, catkins appear – red on male trees, green on female trees. When they have been pollinated by the wind, female catkins develop into fluffy, white seeds. The leaves turn golden yellow in autumn.
While not a native tree, Populus alba is naturalised all over the UK and is often found growing near water, as it needs moist soil. It's tolerant of a wide range of soils and sites, including salty winds, and is often grown as a windbreak tree, especially on coastal sites.
Populus alba is a good tree for wildlife – several moth caterpillars feed on its leaves and the catkins provide early pollen and nectar for bees and other insects. Birds eat the seeds.
Populus alba does not need regular pruning but if you need to do so, prune in late summer to prevent it 'bleeding'. Remove suckers from the base in autumn or winter.
This is a tree for the boundary of a very large garden or parkland. Do not grow white poplar near buildings – its vigorous roots may damage drains and foundations.
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Advice on buying Populus alba
Make sure you have enough space to grow your poplar – it can ultimately reach 20m x 15m. Do not plant it near buildings
You're likely to find Populus alba at a specialist tree nursery or online. Always buy trees from a reputable supplier that sells British-grown or certified disease-free stock, to guarantee against pests and diseases
Male trees are more ornamental, as they bear attractive red catkins
Look out for bare root trees, on sale in winter – these are much cheaper than pot-grown trees
Populus ‘Alba’ is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects, birds and butterflies/moths. It is a caterpillar food plant, has nectar/pollen rich flowers and has seeds for birds.
