How tall is a quaking aspen tree?
In terms of height, quaking aspens are relatively small. They are usually less than 50 feet (15 meters) tall. Quaking aspens are the most widely distributed tree species in North America.
Do quaking aspens spread fast?
As the forest trees get bigger, the aspens die out. Quaking aspen tree facts establish that this succession tree spreads very fast in proper terrain. It grows fast from seeds, but also grows from suckers. Planting a quaking aspen tree can lead quickly to many quaking aspen weed trees invading your yard .
How do you identify quaking aspen colonies?
Individual clonal colonies of different colors can be discerned during the autumn, as seen on this mountainside in the Matanuska Valley in Alaska. Quaking aspen propagates itself primarily through root sprouts, and extensive clonal colonies are common.
Are aspen trees good for yards?
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.
Is there a difference between aspen and quaking aspen?
The biggest difference will be in the outer edges of the leaves. Quaking aspens will appear smooth but have small jagged edges. Bigtooth aspen will have much more pronounced edges, hence the name 'bigtooth' aspen. Another difference in the leaves is the size.
What is the lifespan of a quaking aspen tree?
The lifespan of quaking aspens is unique. Individual quaking aspen stems usually live for about 50 to 60 years, sometimes up to 150 years in the West. However, in many cases, each tree is actually part of a much larger organism, since multiple stems can sprout from the same root system.
Do quaking aspen trees spread?
Aspen roots and suckers can spread a significant distance and after a few years the sprouts can form a thick stand of trunks interconnected by their roots. In fact, possibly the largest living organism on earth is a 100- acre clonal (genetically identical) stand of quaking aspens called “Pando”, near Fish Lake, Utah.
How long does it take for a quaking aspen to grow?
This tree grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24" per year.
Do aspen trees have deep roots?
Aspens have shallow roots and they only penetrate the soil up to a distance of 12 inches.
How close can I plant an aspen tree to my house?
Consider planting your trees near a tall fence as a backdrop or on the north or east side of your house. If planting near the house, position the tree at least 10 to 20 feet away from the wall.
Do aspen trees damage foundations?
They will not pose a problem to your foundation. They are a fast growing tree, somewhat columnar, and look good in that small area.
Are aspen leaves toxic to dogs?
Because dogs, especially, will eat large amounts, it is important to keep pets and these plants apart....Table 1: Non-toxic plants by common name.Common nameLatin or scientific nameAsparagus fernAsparagus densiflorus cv sprengeriAsparagus fernAsparagus setaceusAspenPopulus sppAspidistraAspidistra spp222 more rows
Do aspens need a lot of water?
Water quaking aspens to a 2-foot depth every two to four weeks to keep them hydrated and healthy. In areas with hot summers, increase the frequency of watering to every other week to keep the roots cool and moist.
How do you control a quaking aspen?
The right way to remove aspen is to kill the tree and the root system with an herbicide and cut it down after it is dead. To kill aspens apply the herbicide Roundup to the base of the trunk. Drill a series of holes into the trunk at a 45 degree angle and fill the holes with concentrated herbicide.
Are aspen trees messy?
Aspen. Quaking aspen trees have showy autumn foliage and attractive bark for winter landscapes. A single tree can spawn an entire grove with its weedy suckers, making it a potential maintenance nightmare if it's planted in a small yard or too close to neighboring properties.
Are there different types of aspens?
Common Aspen Tree Varieties Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) Korean aspen (Populus davidiana) Common/European aspen (Populus tremula) Japanese aspen (Populus sieboldii)
What is so special about quaking aspen?
Admirers frequently note the striking white bark of quaking aspen. This bark lives and carries out photosynthesis, attributes that make it unique among North American trees and likely contribute to its impressive geographic range (Figure 1). The white bark is living tissue, unique among North American trees.
Is any part of the Aspen tree edible?
Edible Parts Much of the tree is edible. You can eat the inner bark and cambium but it is best in the spring. It can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a flour. For those who have used it, they say that this flour is normally mixed with other flours for making bread.
Are aspen and birch the same?
Aspen has heart shaped leaves but birch has oval shaped leaves with tapering tips. Both trees leaves are a beautiful shade of green and in the fall they turn brilliant tones of yellow but are rarely red.
How long do quaking aspens live?
The lifespan of quaking aspens is unique. Individual quaking aspen stems usually live for about 50 to 60 years, sometimes up to 150 years in the West.
What are quaking aspens?
Quaking aspens, also called trembling aspens, are named for their leaves. Flat leaves attach to branches with lengthy stalks called petioles, which quake or tremble in light breezes. Quaking aspens regularly grow in dense, pure stands, creating a stunning golden vista when their leaves change color in the fall. The white bark is one identifying characteristic of this tree, but the bark is special for more than just its unique appearance. The bark layer of quaking aspens carries out photosynthesis, a task usually reserved for tree leaves. In winter, when other deciduous trees are mostly dormant, quaking aspens are able to keep producing sugar for energy. Deer, moose, and elk seek shade from aspen groves in summer. These same animals consume bark, leaves, buds, and twigs of quaking aspens throughout the year. Ruffed grouse are especially dependent on quaking aspens for food and nesting habitat. People use quaking aspens for fuel and to make paper, particle board, furniture, and hamster bedding. In terms of height, quaking aspens are relatively small. They are usually less than 50 feet (15 meters) tall.
How do aspens reproduce?
Quaking aspens can reproduce via pollen and eggs that are contained in hanging flowers called catkins. However, it’s much more common for them to reproduce asexually by sending up new stems from a single root system. The combination of all of the stems and their single root system is a structure called a clone.
What is the main inhibitor of aspen growth?
The other major inhibitor of aspen growth is fire suppression. Quaking aspens require intense sunlight to grow, but when other trees spring up in the forest, aspen stems are shaded out. Fire reduces canopy cover and allows for the continued growth of quaking aspens.
How big is the largest living thing on earth?
Nearly 50,000 stems protrude from a single root system. The entire organism covers over 100 acres and weighs 6,000 tons.
How tall are ruffed grouse?
In terms of height, quaking aspens are relatively small. They are usually less than 50 feet (15 meters) tall.
Where do quaking aspens grow?
They grow in Alaska and Canada, all the way south to Mexico. They withstand such a wide range of climatic conditions by growing at lower altitudes in the north and higher altitudes in the south. Quaking aspens are conspicuously absent from the Southeast because there are no high-elevation mountains where it can live.
What color are the leaves of quaking aspens?
In the spring and summer, leaves are glossy green on the upper surface and dull green underneath. In the fall leaves turn yellow, gold, and in rare instances, even red. Quaking Aspens grow in large and dense colonies throughout North America enduring lows of -78° F and highs of 110° F.
What is the difference between quaking aspens and birch trees?
Quaking Aspens are often confused with birch trees. Although aspen are somewhat similar in appearance to some species of birch, birch trees belong to an entirely different family of trees. Birch are famous for having bark that peels back like paper; aspen bark does not peel. Whereas aspen leaves are perfectly flat, ...
How old are Aspen clones?
Aspen "clones," as the individual root systems are called, can live to be thousands of years old. The oldest known clone in existence is called "Pando" and is located in the Fishlake National Forest north of Bryce Canyon National Park in central Utah. It has been aged at 80,000 years!
What are the aspens in Bryce Canyon?
The above-ground portions of Quaking Aspens are few and far between at Bryce Canyon National Park. Historic photographs show that these kinds of forest used to be much more common. The aggressive suppression of forest fires, (natural or otherwise) has allowed spruce and fir forests to overshadow the once common aspen groves. Using prescribed fires to burn away key portions of the spruce and fir forests will allow aspen to quickly return to their former glory as a keystone species that assures the survival of many other kinds of plants and animals. Look for little pockets of aspen along the scenic drive at the southern end of the park and also tucked underneath the canyon rim between Sunset and Sunrise Points.
How to tell if an aspen is self-pruned?
Aspens can be identified by their smooth, white bark marked by black scars where lower branches are naturally self-pruned. Quaking Aspen leaves are somewhat heart shaped, with finely saw-toothed margins and range in size from 1.25-3" (3-8 cm) long.
Why do all aspen trees have the same branching structure?
With careful inspection, clones can be mapped, as all the trees that sprout from a single clone will have the same branching structure because they are genetically identical to one another. Even easier and more obvious is to watch as aspen forests change color in the fall.
Why do aspen leaves flutter?
The leaves attach to branches via a long and flattened petiole, so that even the slightest breeze causes the leaves to flutter. This gives the overall tree the appearance that it is quaking or trembling - hence the common name Quaking Aspen and the scientific name's specific epithet - tremuloides.
What is a quaking aspen?
The quaking aspen ( Populus tremuloides ), a name that refers to how its leaves tremble at the slightest breeze, is a tree in the Willow family. Other common names refer to such features as its fall color (golden aspen), bark color (white aspen), or to a favorite habitat (mountain aspen). It's easily identified by its smooth, light-colored bark, interrupted at intervals by darker knots and horizontal scars. An even better identifying feature is its flattened leafstalks, which cause the leaves to "quake" when the wind blows. The leaves are rounded to slightly triangular, 3 inches across, and finely toothed. The flower/seedhead is a catkin. Quaking aspen isn't the best tree for every landscape, but, if you wish to grow it, the best time to plant one is spring, after the last frost date in your area.
How do quaking aspen trees spread?
Quaking aspen spreads naturally through its root system , developing into large stands over time. In such a stand, one tree is a clone of the next. The trees are also dioecious, so there are distinct male and female colonies. Because quaking aspen trees do propagate themselves so readily through their root systems, you can take advantage of this fact to acquire new trees. Simply dig up offshoots from the original tree and transplant them to a suitable location in your landscape. This is by far the easiest way to propagate quaking aspen.
Is quaking aspen a shade tree?
But to grow a single quaking aspen as a specimen plant or shade tree, you must continually remove any new plants that pop up from the root system.
Does quaking aspen handle heat?
Quaking aspen does not handle heat and humidity well. It is not suited to regions such as the American Southeast.
Can quaking aspen trees grow in full sun?
Grow quaking aspen tree in full sun for best results, although it does tolerate some shade.
Is white poplar invasive?
It is valued for its silvery leaves, but its downside is that it's invasive.
Can quaking aspen be attacked?
Quaking aspen can be attacked by powdery mildew disease. Quaking aspen likes evenly moist soil, but you have to strike the right balance between dry soil and soggy soil. Soggy soil invites fungal diseases. Likewise, don't get the leaves wet when watering. Also water early in the day, so that excess water evaporates before nightfall. Practicing good garden hygiene can also help prevent this fungal disease. Remove and dispose of any diseased leaves or branches.
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.
Why is the quaking aspen so popular?
This is one of the most widespread trees in North America. The main reason for this is its ability to grow so well in the mountains.
What does quaking leaves do to the landscape?
Adds movement and a soft, pleasant sound to the landscape due to the “quaking” leaves.
What is the tree type in the Rockies?
In fact, they make up one of the main forest communities in the Rockies – the fir-aspen zone. Tree Type. This tree is considered both a shade tree and an ornamental tree. It features a spreading canopy capable of blocking sunlight and adds visual interest and beauty to landscaping. Size.
Where do quaking aspens grow?
Quaking aspens grow across Canada and into Alaska, with the tree absent only from the extreme northern portions of both. 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 family is a quaking aspen?
The quaking aspen and the bigtooth aspen are members of the willow family of trees. They belong to the genus Populus, which includes aspens, poplars and cottonwoods. Aspen trees are sometimes referred to as aspen poplars. Both species of aspen trees enjoy a wide geographical range, especially the quaking aspen, ...
How big are aspen leaves?
Quaking aspen leaves are nearly round and as wide as 3 inches. Those of bigtooth aspen are longer at about 3 1/2 inches but not quite as wide, with most between 2 and 2 1/2 inches across. Both kinds have edges with rounded teeth on them, with bigtooth aspen’s teeth farther apart than those on the quaking aspen. The leaves turn yellowish gold in the fall, creating striking scenery where large stands of the trees grow.
What is the bark color of a big tooth aspen?
Bigtooth aspen bark is smooth and a gray-white on the immature trees, crisscrossed with black bands. The bark turns a darker hue of gray at the bottom portion of the trunk, with deep furrows, on the older bigtooth aspens. Aspen Poplar Branching Pattern.
How long do aspen trees live?
The aspen normally will not live long, only about 25 years, when planted for landscaping purposes.
Where does Bigtooth Aspen grow?
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. The Unusual Aspen Leaf.
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.
How tall is a quaking aspen tree?
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.
Where does quaking aspen grow?
It grows at high altitudes as far south as Guanajuato, Mexico. Quaking aspen grows in a wide variety of climatic conditions. January and July average temperatures range from −30 °C (−22 °F) and 16 °C (61 °F) in the Alaska Interior to −3 °C (27 °F) and 23 °C (73 °F) in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
What is the name of the quaking aspen?
Not to be confused with European aspen, Populus tremula, which is also known as the quaking aspen.
Why do aspen leaves tremble?
The quaking or trembling of the leaves that is referred to in the common names is due to the flexible flattened petioles. The specific epithet, tremuloides, evokes this trembling behavior and can be literally translated as "like (Populus) tremula ", the European trembling aspen.
Where is the quaking aspen tree located?
Populus tremuloides is the most widely distributed tree in North America, being found from Canada to central Mexico. It is the defining species of the aspen parkland biome in the Prairie Provinces of Canada and extreme northwest Minnesota . The quaking aspen is the state tree of Utah.
Why are aspens used in campgrounds?
Yet they are still widely used in campgrounds because they are cheap and plentiful and not widely used in building lumber. Pioneers in the North American west used them to create log cabins and dugouts, though they were not the preferred species.
Why are aspen trees dying?
As this accelerated in 2004, a debate over causes began. No insect, disease, or environmental condition has yet been definitively identified as a cause. Trees adjacent to one another are often stricken or not. In other instances, entire groves have died.
What is a quaking aspen tree?
Aspen. Quaking aspen trees have showy autumn foliage and attractive bark for winter landscapes. A single tree can spawn an entire grove with its weedy suckers, making it a potential maintenance nightmare if it’s planted in a small yard or too close to neighboring properties.
How fast does a cottonwood tree grow?
Cottonwood. The cottonwood tree is fast-growing, spurting up as much as six feet a year. That rapid growth leads to weak wood, which makes it susceptible to limb breakage and damage from storms and wind. The female trees produce cottony covered seeds, leaving behind a big mess for homeowners to clean up.
