| Description | Balsm Popular (Populus balsamifera) One of the many fast-growing Popple trees found growing in North America. Used extensively as a source of pulp for paper making. |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | All Plants, Trees Deciduous |
| Sunlight | full |
| Moisture | average to moist |
| Soil & Site | average, sandy, moist, will grow in flood plains |
| Flowers | dioecious, long yellow stalked catkins in the spring |
| Leaves | simple, alternate, ovate, finely serrated, shiny dark green above and paler almost blotchy orange below |
| Stems | In the springtime the buds are saturated with a sticky aromatic sap (balsam). Twigs have a bitter aspirin taste. |
| Dimensions | Medium to large tree reaching 75-100 feet in optimal conditions. A narrow pyramidal crown with ascending branches. |
| Misc Facts | The wood is used for pulp and some lumber products. Other Populus species are preferred over P. balsamifera. |
| Author's Notes | In the area I grew up, Balsam Poplar and Quacking Aspen were common and were similar in appearance. The easy way to tell them apart was the darker color and the sticky sap on the twigs of Balsam. |
| Notes & Reference | #39-The Natural History of Trees (Donald Cultrose Pattie) |
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