Populus nigra - Black Poplar

Black Poplar, in Latin Populus nigra, which should not be confused with the Italian Poplar. It is the typical tree of rivers, banks, and riparian woodland, unfortunately becoming quite rare in Europe in favour of its hybrids and varieties. It is a tall deciduous tree with a dark, slender, irregular silhouette. It has rustling foliage, which is a shiny dark green colour that turns beautiful golden yellow in autumn. With rapid growth and good longevity, this native poplar is less susceptible to diseases than its hybrids. Superb as a large windbreak curtain, it thrives in moist soils.

Populus nigra belongs to the family Salicaceae. It is native to central and southern Europe, temperate Asia, and northern Africa. Adapted to cool to wet soils, this poplar develops a very extensive and widespread root system and tends to sucker. For this reason, it should be planted far away from buildings, at least 30 m (98ft). The black poplar can reach a height of 30m (98ft) and a width of 9m (29ft), and its growth is fast. This tree, very resistant to cold, can live for 400 years.

The black poplar develops a vertical trunk that rises to the top of the crown, with large secondary branches and multiple fine branches that are more or less erect. It branches quite low on the trunk. This forms an irregular crown. Over time, on mature specimens, its dark brown to blackish bark, becomes rough, with a characteristic diamond pattern. Sometimes the trunk shows large growths called gnarls. The young bark is smooth, thin, and greyish in colour. Small buds appear in early spring, attached to the branches. Its small triangular to diamond-shaped leaves, shiny dark green, turn yellow in October before falling. The black poplar is a dioecious plant, meaning there are separate male and female individuals. Flowering occurs in March-April. The inflorescences are pendulous catkins: male catkins, without peduncles, are reddish-violet, while female catkins hanging from a peduncle are tinted yellowish-green. After wind pollination, the female trees bear fruits grouped in clusters, and the cottony seeds are dispersed by the wind.

The Black Poplar is best suited for large gardens or parks.  It is perfect, for example, along watercourses or near ponds and large natural pools. It could be associated with the common alder, willow, and ash, which also appreciate the proximity of water. This tree, when densely planted, can also create large windbreak screens. Like all native species, it is valuable for biodiversity.