Poplar, black poplar, Populus nigra

The black poplar originally comes from Asia or is also common in North Africa. The willow plant is very robust in terms of temperatures and can easily tolerate low temperatures even after several years. Black poplars are often planted as a solitary tree in the garden because, like other willow plants, they grow very quickly and thus quickly become an imposing tree that provides shade.

The original wild form of the black poplar is on the list of endangered species in Germany, as numerous hybrids are displacing it and the habitat is becoming increasingly scarce. In addition, the wood of the poplars is considered a popular carving wood, which also damaged the stock. With your own black poplar tree you not only have a beautiful tree in your garden, you can also actively contribute to the preservation of the species.

Characteristics

• German name: black poplar
• Scientific name: Populus nigra
• Family: willow family (Salicaceae)
• Genus: Poplars (Populus)
• Flowering time: April
• Flower color: reddish
• leaf color: green in summer; yellow in autumn
• Growth height: up to 60 meters
• Type of fruit: capsule fruit
• Frost hardiness: up to -24°C

Location

The sunnier the location, the better the poplar can develop. In order to be able to develop well, the tree needs not only plenty of sun but also sufficient warmth, which is why a south-facing location is also ideal. When choosing a location, you should not only make sure that the tree gets enough sun, but also that about the house is not in the shade half the day, because the black poplar can reach a height of up to 60 meters. In good conditions, the poplar grows one meter per year alone.

Floor

In addition to a sunny location, the soil for the black poplar should always be kept moist. In the wild, the tree likes to settle near rivers or streams, but their habitats have become scarce due to river regulations.

• In the garden, care should therefore be taken to keep the tree moist, especially in the first few years of life.
• The soil for the poplar must be rich in nutrients and particularly permeable.
• When planting the poplar, the substrate should be loosened up with gravel and sand.

It is important that long-term planning is carried out here and that a deeper planting hole has already been dug and filled with gravel or soil. sand is loosened. the gravel or Sand is mixed with regular garden compost, which provides the plant's initial nutrient needs.

watering and fertilizing

A lot of water is necessary for the survival of the black poplar. If possible, the poplar should therefore also be planted in the garden next to a body of water such as a natural pond. Especially in the first few years, longer periods of drought can cause damage, which is why it has to be watered regularly. In addition, the nutrient requirements of the tree should be covered regularly with a biological fertilizer in the first few years. If the black poplar has rooted itself well in the ground, it is sufficient to regularly supply it with compost around the trunk. In addition, the falling leaves can also be composted directly under the tree and thus be used again immediately as a nutrient supplier. Once young poplars have developed into a beautiful tree, they are usually no longer susceptible to longer periods of drought, which usually only inhibits growth this year.

pruning

Unfortunately, numerous mistakes are often made when pruning the poplars, which not only costs the tree a lot of strength, it also leads to deformed and unsightly growth forms. However, this is usually due to the wrong choice of location, because many do not expect the tree to actually grow so quickly. In addition, its roots also spread greatly when they are looking for water, which is why no willow plants are generally planted in the immediate vicinity of houses or paths should. When pruning, the following points should be observed:

• If the tree is to form a beautiful crown in the upper area and the trunk remain free below, the lower branches must be cut regularly in the first few years.
• If the branches are to border the tree from the ground up, regular shortening of the branches promotes dense growth.
• The black poplars are preferably cut when they are not in the "juice" and it is frost-free. A pruning in autumn is ideal, but it should be pruned in early spring at the latest.

hibernate

For many animals, the buds and bark are welcome food in winter, which is why the black poplar should be protected from wildlife browsing in the first few years.

• Wrap the trunk tightly in an old jute sack and tie the sack tight. This at least protects the trunk and nibbled branches cause fewer problems.
• Remove winter protection again in early spring.
• Winter protection is no longer necessary after the first two to three years if the tree has already reached a size where it is no longer interesting for animals.

pests and diseases

Several diseases Pests can be dangerous for the black poplar. However, there is no need to take immediate action when the first signs appear, the tree can often regulate the problem itself. Countermeasures should only be taken in the event of a severe infestation.

• fungal attack: This fungus is not the typical tree fungus, which does not pose a threat to the poplar, but Nectria galligena, which is also often referred to as "tree canker". Affected branches and twigs should be removed and burned immediately, as this fungus can spread quickly.
• poplar rust: The poplar rust shows through yellow leaves already in summer. In and of itself, this is not a problem that calls for quick action, since growth will only be inhibited this year.
• Necrosis: The necrosis leads to dark spots on the leaves, which look unattractive but also do not pose any danger.

frequently asked Questions

poplar species

In Germany, the poplar is in the form of the black poplar (Populus nigra), the trembling poplar (Populus tremula) and the white poplar (Populus alba) represent. The white poplar and the aspen crossed in nature and the gray poplar (Populus canescens) spawned.

• The Black poplarused to determine the image of the riverbanks on the great European rivers such as the Elbe, Danube, Rhine and Vistula, Loire, Rhône and Po. Separate Specimens of the mighty trees, which stand out due to their crooked growth and bizarre bark structure, can still be admired on the European river meadows become. These black poplars grow up to 30 meters high, develop a trunk circumference of over 7 meters and live up to 300 years. In Germany, the tree of the year 2006 is on the national red list, which has something to do with the fact that its natural habitat (biotopes in river meadows) is becoming increasingly rare.
• The aspen We also know it under the name aspen, it can be found at the edges of forests, on fallow land and in sparse forests. Their specialty is feeding rare butterflies: they like to live on bushy young plants along the way the caterpillars of the most endangered butterflies, cutting down such shrubs should therefore be avoided become. The caterpillars of about 35 species of butterflies develop on the aspen.
• Also the white poplar or white poplar originally grew in river meadows, but was often planted as an ornamental tree and then ran wild from these plantations. She also takes care of caterpillars, the caterpillar of the endangered white poplar barnacle even exclusively.
• The gray poplar has proven to be very wind resistant. This fact and the propagation by root shoots make them the ideal wood to fortify the dunes in coastal areas. The gray poplar is also popular in avenues and parks.

poplar wood

The wood of the endangered black poplar is not used economically, deposits from residues or from Trees felled for safety are perhaps the most popular wood for carving, especially among sculptors. Black poplar hybrids have been cultivated since the 17th century. Planted for wood production in the 19th century. The pyramidal poplar with its upright growth, known from the avenue plantings, is a cultivated form of the black poplar.

The aspen is a common forest tree, its wood is widely used for all products that need to be light (plywood, table tennis bats and more). It is also processed into paper and is available as biomass for energy production. The white poplar and the gray poplar are used in a similar way.

Poplar active ingredients as a remedy

• Ointments made from black poplar buds were and are used as an analgesic balm. The aspen also contains salicylic acid compounds, which have analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects. The bark, leaves and shoot tips are used for this.
• Beware of allergy sufferers – like all willow plants, poplars also have considerable allergenic potential.
• The poplar Incidentally, it has no cones, even if a product from a well-known crystal processing company is often referred to on the Internet as a poplar cone.

Learn more about deciduous trees in the garden