This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Populus 'Balsam Spire'
  • Tacatricho 32

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Populus genus in the family Salicaceae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Heavy clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210

Uses

Edible uses

There are no edible uses listed for Populus 'Balsam Spire'.

Material uses

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[1].

The dried buds are used in pot-pourri[2].

Wood - soft, rather woolly in texture, without smell or taste, of low flammability, not durable, very resistant to abrasion. Of low quality, it is mainly used as a source of pulp[3][4].
There are no material uses listed for Populus 'Balsam Spire'.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaf buds are covered with a resinous sap that has a strong turpentine odour and a bitter taste[5]. They also contain salicin, The buds are antiscorbutic, antiseptic, balsamic, diuretic, expectorant, stimulant and tonic[6][7][8][9][2]. They are taken internally in the treatment of bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections. They should not be prescribed to patients who are sensitive to aspirin[2]. Externally, the buds are used to treat colds, sinusitis, arthritis, rheumatism, muscular pain and dry skin conditions[2]. They can be put in hot water and used as an inhalant to relieve congested nasal passages[5]. The buds are harvested in the spring before they open and are dried for later use[2]. Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, the bark of most, if not all members of the genus contain salicin, a glycoside that probably decomposes into salicylic acid (aspirin) in the body[5][2]. The bark is therefore anodyne, anti-inflammatory and febrifuge. It is used especially in treating rheumatism and fevers, and also to relieve the pain of menstrual cramps[2].
There are no medicinal uses listed for Populus 'Balsam Spire'.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - must be sown as soon as it is ripe in spring[10]. Poplar seed has an extremely short period of viability and needs to be sown within a few days of ripening[11]. 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. 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[3]. This species is a hybrid and will not come true from seed.

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, the cuttings grow away strongly and can be 2 metres tall by the end of their first year[K].

Suckers in early spring[12].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Populus 'Balsam Spire'. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

An easily grown plant, it grows well in a heavy cold damp soil[13]. It prefers a deep rich well-drained circumneutral soil, growing best in the south and east of Britain[3][11]. Growth is much less on wet soils, on poor acid soils and on thin dry soils[3]. Reasonably wind tolerant, though it does not do well in exposed upland sites or in maritime exposure[11, K]. It dislikes shady positions, and is intolerant of root or branch competition[11].

A very fast growing hybrid, this plant is a female clone that is sometimes planted for forestry[3]. It comes into leaf early in the year[3]. 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[3].

Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Populus 'Balsam Spire'. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Populus 'Balsam Spire'.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Populus 'Balsam Spire'
Genus
Populus
Family
Salicaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
[5][6][7][8][9][2]
Material uses & Functions
[1][2][3][4]
Botanic
[3]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    deciduous
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    vigorous
    Mature Size
    30 x meters
    Fertility
    self sterile
    Pollinators
    Wind
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    dioecious











    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.52.62.72.8 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.53.63.73.8 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Schery. R. W. Plants for Man. ()
    9. ? 9.09.1 Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism. ()
    10. ? Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.111.2 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    12. ? Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
    13. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)


    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Populus_%27Balsam_Spire%27&oldid=79629"
    Facts about "Populus 'Balsam Spire'"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familySalicaceae +
    Belongs to genusPopulus +
    Has common nameTacatricho 32 +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has fertility typeSelf sterile + and Wind +
    Has flowers of typeDioecious +
    Has growth rateVigorous +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature height30 +
    Has search namepopulus 'balsam spire' + and x +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teheavy clayture preferenceHeavy clay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy namePopulus 'Balsam Spire' +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +