Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Salicaceae ⟩ Populus alba / white poplar

Populus alba L.

white poplar (Salicaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadSlight tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Populus alba is a popular amenity tree in parks and streets.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2015-09-25

 white poplar / Populus alba: _Populus alba_ is a popular amenity tree in parks and streets.

The leaves of Populus alba are clearly 3–5-lobed, in contrast to those of Populus × canescens.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2015-09-25

 white poplar / Populus alba: The leaves of _Populus alba_ are clearly 3–5-lobed, in contrast to those of _Populus_ × _canescens_.

Populus alba shares with Populus × canescens the white-felted underside of its leaves.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2015-09-25

 white poplar / Populus alba: _Populus alba_ shares with _Populus_ × _canescens_ the white-felted underside of its leaves.

Both Populus alba and Populus × canescens have diamond-shaped lenticels in their bark.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2015-09-25

 white poplar / Populus alba: Both _Populus alba_ and _Populus_ × _canescens_ have diamond-shaped lenticels in their bark.

Populus alba often spreads vegetatively by underground suckers.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2015-09-25

 white poplar / Populus alba: _Populus alba_ often spreads vegetatively by underground suckers.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne