Populus yunnanensis (18/06/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to light shade
Soil: Moist well drained soil
Flowering period: Spring
Eventual Height: 20m
Eventual Spread: 15m
Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a
Family: Salicaceae
Populus yunnanensis is a fast growing deciduous tree with a conical habit. Its bright green glossy leaves are triangular to ovate with mildly sinuate margins, up to 16cm long and 7.5cm broad. Its leaves turn yellow in autumn before they fall. It bark is grey/ brown and fissured. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 60m. Its flowers are dioecious and wind pollinated. Its male catkins are up to 20cm long and the female are up to 15cm long. Its fruit are green capsules. These contain small seeds which have fine hairs which aids their wind dispersal. The roots of this tree may sucker if damaged.
Populus yunnanensis Leaf (18/06/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Populus yunnanensis, commonly known as the Yunnan Poplar or Chinese Poplar, is native to south central China. In its native habitat it grows in mountain forests.
The etymological root of the binomial name Populus is derived from its ancient Latin name, arbor-populi meaning ‘tree of the people’. Yunnanensis is derived from the Latin meaning ‘from Yunnan’, China.
The landscape architect may find Populus yunnanensis useful as a fast growing tree with attractive leaves.
Ecologically, Populus yunnanensis is attractive to some insects and birds.
Populus yunnanensis Bark (18/06/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Populus yunnanensis prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It will tolerate both dry and moist soils
Populus yunnanensis requires little maintenance.
