One of our largest broadleaved trees, typically standing very tall with a massive spreading crown. Can form impenetrable clonal stands, formed of multiple suckers arising from its roots.

Native across north-western Europe and into eastern Europe and Central Asia, but believed to be a non-native cultivated hybrid in Britain and Ireland, first recorded in 1705. Very widespread and common across most of England in damp woodlands and field edges, but less frequent in the south-west and north-west, and in Scotland, Wales and Ireland mainly restricted to sheltered lowlands.

Grey Poplar is a naturally occurring hybrid between White Poplar and Aspen, its range following its parents’. Dioecious, most trees are male with purple catkins; female trees are usually only partly fertile. It propagates mainly by suckering from root buds, even appearing across a road from its parent. Specimens tend to outlive the White Poplar parent.

Large (35-40m), usually leaning, with a stout twig form and heavy branches curving down at the top to form a high dome, broadest in the upper crown. Trunk rugged and corky at the base, smooth cream-brown above. Shoots brown-grey, initially white-woolly then glabrous. Leaves variable, maple-like on vigorous shoots, rounded-triangular with pointed lobes, white-woolly then mostly glabrous. Male catkins 5-10cm, grey-purple; female less common. White Poplar and Aspen differ in lobing, hairiness and petioles.

A common tree, easily grown from softwood (not hardwood) cuttings or by replanting suckers. Very vigorous, especially in damp, fertile soils, and tolerant of many soils including heavy clay, though poorer on dry sites and heathland. Tolerates salt winds and urban pollution. Prone to dropping large branches in wind, creating cavities used by nesting birds. Its size and spreading crown make it unsuitable for small gardens.

Large birds, including raptors like Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) and Red Kite (Milvus milvus), like to nest in its spreading crown. Insects collect pollen and feed on leaves.

Generally robust, but can be damaged by various fungi, rusts, canker and poplar scab. Vulnerable to bark-stripping by Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).

Specimens help diversify otherwise treeless arable landscapes, tolerating ploughing and hedge trimming, and it is among the best windbreak species for coasts. The wood is diffuse-porous, with pink heartwood often distinct from pale sapwood; it is light, soft and non-durable. It is not considered a commercially productive species.