How to identify an aspen tree
Tree Profiles > How to identify an aspen tree
How do you identify an aspen tree?
Wondering if you are looking at an aspen tree? Your clues are their leaves, buds, catkins and bark. Here’s what they look like at-a-glance:
Aspen tree facts
Hello! In today’s guide we are going to learn how to identify an aspen tree. Are you ready? Let’s get started! Here are a few aspen facts:
- Common name: Aspen – Common, European, Quaking
- Latin name: Populus tremula
- Family: Saliaceae
Aspen trees can grow up to 25 meters. They often live in colonies, with individual trunks living up to 50 years and the main trunk and root system living for up to 150 years. They prefer to grow in moist, sunny, well-drained soil along rivers and open woodlands.
Aspen leaves
Aspen leaves have a rounded shape, with wavy margins and a soft, blueish colour. The leaf stalk is flattened from the side, so they tremble and shake even in the slightest breeze. In the autumn, its leaves turn vibrant yellow.
Aspen buds
Their buds are pointed and lie close to the twig. Their scales spiral up the bud.
Aspen catkins
Male catkins have soft, white down and red anthers growing from brown husks. Female catkins produce green seeds with a soft, white down.
Aspen bark
The bark on young trees is smooth, silver and covered in dark, diamond-shaped lenticles.
Aspen tree uses
- Medicinal – Aspen is traditionally used for treating arthritic pain and inflammation
- Dyes – Its leaves produce deep yellow or olive-green dyes.
- Bushcraft -The dead inner bark is great for tinder and kindling.
- Wildlife – Aspens are home to rare dark-bordered beauty moths, endangered aspen hoverflies and aspen bracket fungus.
- Industry – Aspen wood is strong but very easy to carve.
- Environment – A pioneer species, aspens are dioecious, rarely flower and instead propagate by generating underground suckers, forming a colony of interconnected trees.