What Is the Yellow Poplar Plant?

History

• Yellow poplar was quite common in the hardwood forests that covered the Eastern United States when Europeans first arrived. Because of its long, straight trunk the tree was used extensively for fence posts, furniture making, construction and railroad ties. Natural populations were decimated in some areas of the country. It has a long history of use as an ornamental. George Washington planted yellow poplar at Mount Vernon. The trees are now 140 feet tall.

Description

• The yellow poplar is a fast-growing tree that can live 200 years. The bark of young trees is smooth and very light grey. On older trees the bark is darker and has thick ridges and furrows. The leaves are tulip shaped, smooth and bright green in summer and yellow in the fall. The showy, yellow, tulip-shaped flowers are borne high on the tree in late spring. They produce a conelike aggregate of winged seeds.

Landscape Use

• Yellow poplars make excellent shade trees but remember that they will grow to at least 90 feet tall and 40 feet wide in landscape situations, so give them room. They grow best in deep, loose, well-drained soil that is neutral to slightly acid. The soil should be kept uniformly moist but not soggy for best growth. The flower is beautiful and showy but difficult to see on a mature tree because of its height.

Lumber and Forest Use

• Yellow poplar is currently planted in tree plantations in the Eastern United States and harvested for use as structural lumber, furniture, plywood and pulpwood. The tall trunk has few side branches, making it easy to saw into lumber. The wood of the yellow poplar is easily worked, although it is rather weak and decays rapidly if exposed to moisture. Yellow poplar is also used in reforestation projects in suitable habitats because of its fast growth rate.