Populus alba
White Poplar
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Populus genus in the family Salicaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Salicaceae
- Genus
- Populus
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 20 m
- Spread
- 12 m
- Fertility
- Self sterile, Wind
- Flower type
- dioecious
- Pollinators
- Wind
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves - rich in Vitamin C[13]. Inner bark - dried, ground into a powder and added to flour for making bread[15][3]. A famine food, it is only used when all else fails[11].
- Plant part
- Inner bark
- Plant part
- Leaves
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The stem bark is anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, diuretic and tonic[8][23][24][12][18]. The bark contains salicylates, from which the proprietary medicine aspirin is derived[20]. It is used internally in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis, gout, lower back pains, urinary complaints, digestive and liver disorders, debility, anorexia, also to reduce fevers and relieve the pain of menstrual cramps[8][23][24][12][17][20]. Externally, the bark is used to treat chilblains, haemorrhoids, infected wounds and sprains[20]. The bark is harvested from side branches or coppiced trees and dried for later use[20]. The leaves are used in the treatment of caries of teeth and bones[18]. The twigs are depurative[18].
- Product or use
- Alterative
- Product or use
- Anodyne
- Product or use
- Antiinflammatory
- Product or use
- Antiseptic
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Tonic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An extract of the shoots can be used as a rooting hormone for all types of cuttings. It is extracted by soaking the chopped up shoots in cold water for a day[10]. A fairly wind resistant tree, it can be grown as part of a shelterbelt planting[16]. A yellow dye is obtained from the bark[2]. Wood - rather woolly in texture, without smell or taste, of low flammability, not durable, very resistant to abrasion, very light, soft, elastic. It is used for less good quality purposes such as making matches, packing materials etc[4][7][23][24][2][6].
- Product or use
- Dye
- Product or use
- Rooting hormone
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy
Environment
- Range
- C. Europe to Asia. Frequently planted in Britain but not naturalized[9].
- Habitat
- Woods and watersides[2].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 3+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind, maritime exposure
- Wind
- Yes
- Maritime
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - must be sown as soon as it is ripe in spring[5]. Poplar seed has an extremely short period of viability and needs to be sown within a few days of ripening[16]. Surface sow or just lightly cover the seed in trays in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the cold frame. If sufficient growth is made, it might be possible to plant them out in late summer into their permanent positions, otherwise keep them in the cold frame until the following late spring and then plant them out. This species does not often produce viable seed in Britain[4]. Most poplar species hybridize freely with each other, so the seed may not come true unless it is collected from the wild in areas with no other poplar species growing[4]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 20 - 40cm long, November/December in a sheltered outdoor bed or direct into their permanent positions. Very easy. Suckers in early spring[25].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An easily grown plant, it does well in a heavy cold damp soil[1]. Prefers a deep rich well-drained circumneutral soil, growing best in the south and east of Britain[4][16]. Growth is much less on wet soils, on poor acid soils and on thin dry soils[4]. This species thrives on drier soils than other members of the genus[14]. It does not do well in exposed upland sites[4] but it is tolerant of maritime exposure, though it can be wind pruned in such a situation[4][16]. Dislikes shade, it is intolerant of root or branch competition[16]. Tolerates both hot and cool summers[16]. A very ornamental tree, it is fast-growing but fairly short-lived[1][4][19]. There are several named varieties[14]. An important food plant for the caterpillars of many species of butterflies[22]. The leaf buds are resinous and exude an aromatic perfume in the spring[21]. Poplars have very extensive and aggressive root systems that can invade and damage drainage systems. Especially when grown on clay soils, they should not be planted within 12 metres of buildings since the root system can damage the building's foundations by drying out the soil[4]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[16].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-330-26642-x
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00