Color of Bark on a Poplar Tree

Bark Color

• Poplar trees have a smooth textured bark that is yellowish green to light green in color on younger trees. The younger bark sometimes has dark spots. As the trees mature, both the texture and color of bark changes. Bark on mature trees is gray to grayish black in color and develops rough fissures, becoming furrowed in texture and appearance. The change in bark color from light to dark is a common feature in all poplar trees.

Description

• Poplar trees grow rapidly and have extensive root systems. The softwood tree has broad, alternate foliage with hairy or smooth surfaces. The shades of green of the foliage differ by variety. Poplar trees produce flowers in the form of catkins during spring. A single tree contains either entirely female or entirely male catkins. The fruits are small, capsule-like seeds covered with a white, cottony mass that is easily dispersed with wind. Cottonwood trees native to North America have a more dense covering on the seeds than other poplars.

Uses

• The softwood pulp of the tree is used extensively in the paper industry and many hybrid poplars are specifically cultivated for this use. Lumber is used in the construction of crates, boxes and matches. Poplar tree bark is considered a substitute for quinine and used in the treatment of fevers; it also is used to make tea. Poplar buds are an ingredient in the preparation of traditional medicines used for respiratory and kidney-related problems. Ointments made with the buds helped with the relief of rheumatism and arthritis. Poplar trees are grown in landscapes for their ornamental value.

Cultural Requirements

• Plant poplar in a well-drained, moist, garden loam and areas of full sun. The trees are easily propagated with seed or cuttings and do not require pruning except to shape younger trees. Common poplar disorders include die-back, cankers, rust, aphids, borers and willow beetles. The trees require lots of water and thrive well with minimal care, making them well-suited for low maintenance sites.