Populus nigra (18/05/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun
Soil: Moist well drained soil
Flowering period: Late winter to early spring
Eventual Height: 35m
Eventual Spread: 20m
Hardiness: 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Family: Salicaceae
Populus nigra is a long lived deciduous tree with an upright, rounded habit. Its mid green glossy leaves are triangular to ovate with mildly sinuate margins, up to 8cm long and 8cm broad. The leaves are bronze when young, turning yellow in autumn before they fall. It bark is grey/ brow. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 1.5m. Its flowers are dioecious and wind pollinated. Its male catkins are red and the female are green. Its fruit are green capsules. These contain small seeds which have fine hairs which aids their wind dispersal.
Populus nigra Leaf (18/05/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Populus nigra, commonly known as the Black Poplar or Water Poplar, is native to Europe (including the UK), south west and central Asia and northwest Africa. It is the UK most endangered native timber tree. In its native habitat it grows in lowland floodplains.
The etymological root of the binomial name Populus is derived from its ancient Latin name, arbor-populi meaning ‘tree of the people’. Nigra is from the Latin meaning ‘black’.
The landscape architect may find Populus nigra useful as part of a native planting scheme, particularly in areas prone to flooding including floodplains. Care should be taken when locating this trees as its roots may damage buildings or be destructive to drainage systems.
Ecologically, Populus nigra is attractive to numerous insects and birds.
Populus nigra Bark (18/05/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Populus nigra prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil, although it prefers alkali soils.
Populus nigra requires little maintenance.
