Side by side
Hybrid black poplar or black poplar? How to tell them apart
Populus × canadensis · Populus nigra
How to tell them apart – hybrid black poplar: straight trunk without burrs and a leaf with fine hairs along the edge; black poplar: poplar with a triangular leaf on a flattened stalk, a dark trunk full of large burrs and a broad, irregular crown.
How do you recognise them?
- Hybrid black poplar
- Triangular leaf on a sideways-flattened stalk that rustles in the wind; often planted in rows.
- Compared with black poplar: straight trunk without burrs and a leaf with fine hairs along the edge.
- Black poplar
- Poplar with a triangular leaf on a flattened stalk, a dark trunk full of large burrs and a broad, irregular crown.
| Hybrid black poplar | Black poplar | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Alternate, triangular to diamond-shaped, 7–10 cm, with a straight base and finely toothed edge. The leaf stalk is flattened sideways. | Alternate, 5–10 cm, triangular to diamond-shaped with a long pointed tip, finely scalloped; no glands at the leaf base and no hairs along the edge. Leaf stalk flattened sideways. |
| Flowering | Red male catkins in March (March–April). | Dark red male catkins in March–April, before the leaves (March–April). |
| Fruit | Fluffy seeds in May on female trees. | Female trees release masses of fluffy seeds in May–June. |
| Bark | Grey, deeply furrowed lengthways. | Dark grey-brown and deeply furrowed, with large burrs and many epicormic shoots. |
| Shape and height | Broadleaf tree, 25–35 m | Broadleaf tree, 20–30 m |
| Site | Full sun, any garden soil, moist to wet | Full sun, any garden soil, moist to wet |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | Yes |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for butterflies | – |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Not known to be poisonous |
| Pruning months | July–August and November–February | July–August and November–February |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Black poplar is native: it feeds more insects and birds than a non-native species. If in doubt, choose this one.
- Hybrid black poplar (25–35 m) and black poplar (20–30 m) both grow into large trees: too big for an ordinary garden, but fine in a large garden, a park or a meadow.
Read on
- Plant profile: Hybrid black poplar
- Plant profile: Black poplar
- Hybrid black poplar: when and how to prune
- Black poplar: when and how to prune
- Identification key
Also looks like
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.