Populus tremula

Aspen

Physical Traits & Growth

Typical max. heightiMaximum height in typical conditions, in metres. Full data also shows maximum achievable height in exceptional conditions.:
40m 1
18m 5
20m 6
31m 7

Max. canopy widthiLikely maximum horizontal width of the canopy, in metres:
Ovoid to globular crown 1
At least 8m wide 2
Slight conical, rounded crown 3

Size of shadowiSize of shadow based on a fully grown tree, categorised as low, medium or high: Moderate (292 sqm)

Canopy densityiShading intensity of the canopy when in full leaf. Categorised from open to dense.:
Moderately dense 1
Light 2

Leaf emergenceiTime of leaf emergence, categorised as very early, early, late, or evergreen: Late (May to Nov 1)

Growth rateiHow quickly the tree grows during establishment. Categorised as low, moderate or high, with very high used in exceptional cases.: High 12

LongevityiExpected lifespan of the tree: Up to 100 years 268

Management & Systems

Typical systemsiCommon agroforestry or silvicultural systems where this species is used:
Lowland or upland 2
Well suited to upland conditions 1
Arable, pasture 5

Approach to silvicultureiCoppicing and pollarding ability:
Can be coppiced within first five years 3
Produces coppice shoots freely 1

Establishment requirementsiCommon requirements to establish the tree:
Fast growing 1, easy to establish 5
Susceptible to herbivore browsing 3

Management requirementsiCommon long-term management needs such as pruning. Categorised as low, moderate or high.:
Minimal or no pruning 1
Self-prunes well 3

Pruning timeiOptimal season for pruning: Winter (mid) 1

Aspen, Reading, UK / Tom Staton / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

Products & Economy

Food productsiCommon food products such as fruits and nuts: –

Wood productsiCommon wood products, including timber, turnery, and pulp:
Timber 12 – veneers, pulp 5
Max YC 12 4 but usually slow-growing 2

BiomassiCommon biomass products such as fuelwood:
Potential for biomass due to rapid growth 5
Charcoal 5

Speciality productsiOther speciality and niche products: –

Time until market (food)iNumber of years until the tree produces food products: –

Time until market (timber)iNumber of years until the tree produces wood products: Coppice rotation of 20 years for pulp 8

Ecology & Utility

Nutrient and organic matter accumulationiRough estimate of soil-improving properties, with larger and deeper-rooting trees predicted to have higher value. Categorised as low, moderate or high.: Moderate – moderate root depth and canopy area

Nitrogen fixationiNitrogen-fixing properties, categorised as yes or no: No

High carbon sequestrationiAll trees sequester carbon, but faster-growing, larger trees generally have higher sequestration potential.:
Short-term (20 years): High
Medium-term (40 years): High
Long-term (60 years): High

Native status in the UKiCategorised as native, long-established, or recent introduction.: Native 1

High wildlife valueiMost trees are likely to be of some value to wildlife, but some trees are of generally higher value to various wildlife groups:
Relatively low 5
Highest value for foliage invertebrates 5

Other environmental impactsiOther impacts such as water consumption and nutrient leaching:
High water consumption in wet conditions 1
High potential to reduce nutrient leaching 5

Pollinators

Flowering period (pollinator benefit)iTypical flowering months: Feb-Mar 1

High pollen and nectar value for pollinatorsiValue of flowers to pollinators: Low 1

Susceptibility & Risks

Risk of toxicity to livestockiReported potential toxicity to livestock, categorised as yes or no. Toxicity is complex and often context-specific.: None known

Risks to farming operationsiOther risks such as suckering roots, very large tree size, secondary host for aphids, and flammability:
Abundant root suckers 2
Aggressive root system can damage drainage systems and building foundations 7

Disease susceptibilityiSusceptibility of the tree (not tree products) to diseases, e.g. fungal and bacterial disease:
Moderate to high
Susceptible to fungal and bacterial disesases such as leaf rusts, stem rot, and bacterial canker, but information is scarce 35
May be susceptible to fungal and bacterial diseases 6

Invertebrate pest susceptibilityiSusceptibility of the tree (not tree products) to invertebrate pests, e.g. aphids and other insects:
Moderate
May be susceptible to leaf beetles, sawflies and caterpillars 6, and a range of other insect pests 9
Older trees more susceptible to insect pests 9

Vertebrate damage susceptibilityiSusceptibility of the tree (not tree products) to vertebrate pests, e.g. squirrels and deer:
High
High sensitivity to browsing 7, highly palatable 8
Bark-stripped by squirrels and browsed by deer, but apparently not in coppice stands 9