Tree of the month: August 2024 - White Poplar

The White Poplar can reach a height of 30 metres and is a very fast growing tree, capable of adding a metre a year to its height. Spreading by suckers as well as seed it can become invasive. It thrives in poor soils including those that are salty and sandy. This has also made it a popular tree to grow under difficult conditions. It was introduced into the UK as a decorative tree for parks and gardens, probably from Holland during the 16th Century. It is native over a vast area, from the Atlas Mountains, through southern Europe to Central Asia. A shallow-rooted tree, when young the bark is smooth and silvery grey but as it ages it develops a characteristic pattern of dark, diamond-shaped pores.

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​The White Poplar, as its name suggests, is most easily recognised by the white appearance of its leaves, the undersides of which are coated by dense white hairs. These, together with the flexible stems of the leaves, give the tree a silvery appearance and a whispering sound as the leaves flutter and shimmer in even a light breeze.

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​Wildlife value of the White Poplar: The White Poplar is dioecious which means the male and female flowers are held on different trees, the male trees being much rarer in the British Isles than the female trees. Because it flowers from late winter to early spring it provides valuable early food for insects. The female flowers, as with other Poplars, become fluffy later in the year and catch the wind, spreading far and wide, very visible as they are caught by the wind. Birds eat the seeds, which, like all seeds, are highly nutritious, packed as they with all the seed needs to develop into a plant. The leaves of White Poplar are the food-plant of many moth caterpillars, including the Poplar Grey, Poplar Hawkmoth, Dingy Shears, Sallow Kitten and the Goat Moth. The latter can weaken the tree through its habit of laying eggs beneath the tree-bark.

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​Human Value of White Poplar: The fast growth and tolerance of poor soils characteristic of White Poplar make it useful for windbreaks, stabilising soils and riverbanks and for reforestation projects. It is being researched as a biomass fuel. The shallow roots also help increase soil aeration. The dense white hairs on the leaves help prevent the pores being clogged by pollution so it can grow in highly polluted habitats. The White Poplar is also being researched for ‘phytoremediation’ as it appears effective in breaking down heavy metals and chemical pollutants in the soil.

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​Timber: White Poplar wood is light-weight and easy to use for furniture-making, paper, plywood, packing boxes and matches.

Herbal uses: Like Willow the bark of White Poplar contains salicin, a natural aspirin and was long used to treat headaches. fevers and skin conditions as well as a poultice for wounds and to treat tooth decay.

The bark and leaves are being researched as a source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory treatments.

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​The White Poplar in Myths and Symbols: Persephone, the Greek Goddess of spring and queen of the Underworld, was said to have turned herself into a White Poplar to escape the attentions of Hades, god of the Underworld.

Also in Greek mythology Heracles (Hercules in Roman mythology), famous for his strength and intrepid adventures, was in battle with Cerebus, the multi-headed hound of Hades. A garland of Poplar that Heracles wore during this battle was said to have been black until his sweat turned it white.

Some Native American cultures hold the White Poplar to be sacred due to its healing powers.

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​Manmohan Ghose (Indian poet 1869-1924, the first Indian poet to write in English) picked up on the shimmering, whispering leaves so characteristic of a grove of White Poplar in full leaf:
Extract from his ‘Poplar, Beech and Weeping Willow’:
“Shapely Poplar, shivering white, Poplar like a maiden,
Thinking, musing softly here, so light and so unladen
That with every breath and stir, perpetually you gladden,
Teach me your still secrecies of thought that never sadden”