How Aspens Grow
- Quaking Aspen ( Populus tremuloides) Young aspen grove. Photo by Linnea Hanson. Aspen are medium-sized deciduous trees, commonly 20 to 80 feet in height, and 3 to 18 inches diameter.
- Reproduction. Quaking aspen female catkins. Photo by B. Campbell. ...
- Aspens that Quake. Aspen leaves rustle in the wind. Photo by R. Lilly. ...
Full Answer
How tall does an aspen tree get?
Quaking aspen is a tall, fast growing tree, usually 20–25 m (65–80 ft) at maturity, with a trunk 20 to 80 cm (8 inches to 2 feet 7 inches) in diameter; records are 36.5 m (119 ft 9 in) in height and 1.37 m (4 ft 6 in) in diameter. Additionally, where do aspen trees grow best?
When should you plant Aspen trees?
Jul 02, 2014 · An Aspen tree can grow as tall as 131 feet and can live up to 150 years above the ground. The wood from the Aspen tree can be made into matches and paper because of …
What are facts about aspen trees?
May 16, 2021 · If you are planting a quaking aspen tree, you may ask “how big do quaking aspens get?” They are generally small or medium trees, but can grow to 70 feet (21 m.) tall in the wild. Note that cultivated trees grown in soil unlike that in which the tree experiences in the wild may stay smaller than trees in nature.
What is the best fertilizer for aspen trees?
Aspen are medium-sized deciduous trees, commonly 20 to 80 feet in height, and 3 to 18 inches diameter. Trees more than 80 feet tall and larger than 24 inches diameter are occasionally found. Their bark is smooth, greenish-white, yellowish-white, yellowish-gray, or gray to …
How fast does an aspen tree grow?
24″ per yearThe quaking aspen grows to a height of 40–50′ and a spread of 20–30′ at maturity. It grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24″ per year.Jul 30, 2021
Are aspen trees good for yards?
Quaking aspens grow natively in many areas of the country, namely in the Rocky Mountain area. They grow very quickly, provide a wonderful finishing touch to a suburban yard, and quiver delightfully in the breeze.
Is aspen a good tree?
Some gardeners love them, some do not. Aspen trees grow very quickly and are very hardy. That means that you can “furnish” a new backyard in just a few seasons if you plant aspens. Aspens are small and won't overwhelm your yard, and sometimes they provide nice autumn color.May 16, 2021
How far apart should aspen trees be planted?
Dig a hole twice as wide and deep as the aspen's root ball. If planting more than one tree, space the holes 10 to 15 feet away from each other. Mix equal parts of compost and native soil. Aspen prefer medium to heavy soil, as long as the soil is well-draining and not clay-like.
Do aspen trees have invasive roots?
It's the root sprouts that make quaking aspen a nuisance tree when grown in your yard. The tree constantly sends out new shoots from the root system, and you will continuously battle these shoots popping up in your yard.Nov 20, 2020
What is the lifespan of an aspen tree?
Aspen trees usually do not live more than 150 years, though they may persist more than 200 years. It grows on many soil types, especially sandy and gravelly slopes, and is quick to pioneer disturbed sites where there is bare soil.
Are aspen trees strong?
Although a soft wood, aspen is relatively strong and has been used in unique ways.
What is special about aspen trees?
It is the largest single organism, by area, on Earth. Elevation – Quaking Aspens are found between 5,000 to 11,500 feet. Orange, Yellow, Gold – Aspen trees change color as the days get shorter. As the photosynthetic activity changes, chlorophyll disappears for these deciduous trees.Oct 7, 2020
Do aspen trees damage foundations?
Aspens form surface roots and primarily propagate by sending out root suckers that form new trees connected to the mother plant. Both of these qualities make mowing around them difficult. Fortunately, aspens do not usually grow large enough to damage foundations or cement, due to their short lifespan.Jul 19, 2016
Are aspen trees easy to grow?
Aspen trees (Populus tremuloides) are a graceful and striking addition to your backyard with their pale bark and “quaking” leaves. Planting a young aspen is inexpensive and easy if you transplant root suckers to propagate the trees, but you can also buy young aspens grown from seed.Aug 7, 2020
How far do aspen roots spread?
Studies of the Populus tremuloides root system by Day (1944), Sandberg (1951) and Barnes (1959) have all shown lateral roots extending as much as 30 feet from tree base. These roots may branch extensively and sometimes exhibit an "undulating" growth habit.Jul 22, 2011
How do you keep aspen trees from spreading?
One strategy to prevent root spread is the use of barriers. Commonly constructed of plastic or metal, thick sheets are installed vertically in the ground along the tree's perimeter, such as between the aspen and your garden.
How big is an aspen tree?
Photo by Linnea Hanson. Aspen are medium-sized deciduous trees, commonly 20 to 80 feet in height, and 3 to 18 inches diameter . Trees more than 80 feet tall and larger than 24 inches diameter are occasionally found. Their bark is smooth, greenish-white, yellowish-white, yellowish-gray, or gray to almost white in color.
How long do aspen trees live?
Aspen trees usually do not live more than 150 years, though they may persist more than 200 years. It grows on many soil types, especially sandy and gravelly slopes, and is quick to pioneer disturbed sites where there is bare soil. It grows best where soils are moist and sunshine is plentiful.
What are the animals that live in aspen trees?
Aspen provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, including hare, moose, black bear, elk, deer, ruffed grouse, migratory birds, and a variety of smaller animals. Aspen stands produce livestock forage, biomass, and are a source for a variety of wood products.
Where can I find Quaking Aspen?
The southern-most aspen are found in central Mexico. Photo by J. Higginson. Quaking aspen is the most widely distributed native North American tree species, growing in greatly diverse regions, environments, and communities. It occurs across Canada, through the United States, to Mexico, in a variety of habitats.
What are the traits of a clone?
The members of a clone can be distinguished from those of a neighboring clone often by a variety of traits such as leaf shape and size, bark character, branching habit, resistance to disease and air pollution, sex, time of flushing, and autumn leaf color.
Where does aspen grow?
It occurs across Canada, through the United States, to Mexico, in a variety of habitats. In the western United States, aspen is generally found at 5,000 to 12,000 feet elevation. Aspen occurs in extensive pure stands in some areas, while in others, it is a minor component of the forest landscape.
What is the Western Aspen Alliance?
The Western Aspen Alliance, a research group at Utah State University’s "S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources", has been studying the tree in an effort to save it. The Forest Service is currently experimenting with several 5-acre sections of it in an effort to find a means to save it.
What is an aspen tree?
Aspen trees are sometimes referred to as aspen poplars. Both species of aspen trees enjoy a wide geographical range, especially the quaking aspen, which has the distinction of growing from coast to coast across North America. The quaking aspen is the tree with the biggest distribution on the continent and a close relative of the European aspen, ...
How long do aspen trees live?
The aspen normally will not live long, only about 25 years, when planted for landscaping purposes.
Where do aspen trees grow?
The versatile aspen tree has the unusual distinction of growing from coast to coast across North American, spreading as far north as Alaska and Canada and as far south as West Virginia. Learn about this plant's saw-toothed leaves, its unusual bark, and its significance for wildlife.
What is quaking aspen?
The quaking aspen tree is a pioneer species that can quickly colonize areas recently cleared areas. The trees develop root suckers which emerge from the soil around the base of the trunk. These suckers can grow into new trees, forming a stand of closely growing aspens.
Where does quaking aspen grow?
In the lower 48 states, quaking aspen grows throughout the Rocky Mountain states, the Great Lakes region and New England. Bigtooth aspen has a much smaller distribution, growing from Minnesota eastward to New England and southern parts of Canada. This variety of aspen tree grows as far south as parts of West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
What do beavers eat?
Both kinds of aspens are a principal food of beavers throughout their range. The mammals will eat the bark, leaves and the twigs of these trees, and use the branches to construct dams. Other mammals that depend on the aspen tree for food include deer, moose and elk, which browse the leaves and twigs.
How big do aspen trees get?
The roots of the Aspen tree can grow up to 40 feet in diameter and grow out many suckers, which develop into the clone of the tree. One Aspen tree can create a large number of clones around it, and in due course of time, a whole forest gets generated out of the common underground root system.
How fast does an aspen tree grow?
The Aspen tree is a moderate to a fast-growing tree with an average growth rate of 24 inches/year. However, the growth rate depends on the growing conditions as well. The Aspen trees are known to grow well in their native ecosystem. In the urban setting, the Aspen tree is not so comfortable.
What family is an aspen tree?
Written by Lindsey Glenn in Tree. The Aspen tree is a deciduous tree that belongs to the genus Populous. Primarily it belongs to the willow family. As with the willow family, the wood of the Aspen is soft but durable. It is also flexible and does not splinter easily.
How to tell if an aspen tree has eyes?
You can find them all over the trunk at the lower height. If you are looking at an Aspen tree, there is no way you can miss seeing these eyes.
Where do aspens grow?
Aspens are distributed all over the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere, in the forest, mountains, valleys, and parks . They grow near water as well. The ideal growing conditions for the Aspen tree are sunny weather, moist, but well-drained soil.
What does the name Aspen mean?
One of the most straightforward meanings of the Aspen tree is a quaking or shivering tree, that is of great help and considered to be a gift of God.
Where do Japanese aspen trees grow?
They are all over the mountains of Japan. The Japanese Aspen grows well in damp and heavy soil. It has a unique wool textured wood with a pleasant aroma and used for several purposes.
How tall does a quaking aspen grow?
The quaking aspen grows to a height of 40–50′ and a spread of 20–30′ at maturity. It grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24″ per year. Provides stunning yellow fall color. Adds movement and a soft, pleasant sound to the landscape due to the “quaking” leaves.
What is a quaking aspen tree?
It is a deciduous tree native to cooler areas of North America, one of several species referred to by the common name Aspen.
