Balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera (aka trichocarpa))

Also Known As: Black cottonwood, California poplar
Plant Family: Willows (Salicaceae)

Identification Guide: *Print version
Phenophase Field Guide: *Print version

2009 Live Map - View

Did you Know? In urban areas, the aggressive root system of black cottonwood can invade and damage drainage systems. Balsam poplar is a commercially valuable tree with the primary products including particle board, plywood, veneer, and lumber. Native Americans used the resin from buds to treat sore throats, coughs, lung pain, and rheumatism. It is still used in some modern natural health ointments. These trees create some of the most biodiverse communities in the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies providing habitat for many bird and insect species. They are declining because of dams and other alterations of river habitats.

Identification Hints: Cottonwoods are extremely variable because they often hybridize between species. Balsam poplar is unique in having rounded lance-shaped leaves with short stems. Plains cottonwood has a more triangular (deltoid) leaf shape with rounded teeth and may occur close to black cottonwoods at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains. Another species, narrow-leaved cottonwoods, have leaves (2.5 times longer than wide). Balsam poplar is a closely related subspecies which has capsules which split in 2 (rather than 3 parts).

Phenological Observations of Interest: First Pollen, Full Pollen, End of Pollen, First Leaf, All Leaves Unfolded, First Ripe Fruit, 50% Color, 50% Leaf Fall

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2009 Live Map for Balsam poplar

Below you can view the latest 100 observations that have been reported in 2009 for Balsam poplar (If the map below is empty then there have not been any 2009 observations reported.)

Use the navigation buttons on the left to zoom in/out and pan around. Click on each place marker to get detail information about that observation.

= First Pollen
= Full Pollen
= End of Pollen
= First Leaf
= All Leaves Unfolded
= First Ripe Fruit
= 50% Color
= 50% Leaf Fall

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