Due to the soft, light way in which poplars sway in the wind, they enrich our local landscape with a simple grace. This is due, among other things, to their very mobile, small leaves. Here is a short portrait.
What do poplar leaves look like?
Poplar leaves are usually triangular and long-stemmed, with a delicate leaf structure that creates a moving crown image. The leaves vary depending on the species and season, such as the quaking aspen with round, lobed winter leaves and triangular, entire-edged summer leaves.
Characteristic: The triangular shape
Although the total of between 22 and 89 species of the genus Populus have quite different leaf shapes, their greatest common denominator is a certain triangular or heart shape. There are also rounder leaf shapes. What they all have in common is a very delicate leaf structure and long stems that are sometimes flattened at the bottom, which contributes to the typical moving, delicate crown appearance. However, the cellulose-rich, flexible poplar wood also plays a role. The mostly light green of the foliage underlines the gentle character of the poplars.
So we can first state:
- Typical poplar leaf shape is triangular
- Long-stemmed
- Delicate leaf structure
- This results in a very moving crown image
Leaf shape variation on the same tree
You may have noticed that different leaf shapes can be attached to the same individual. A genetic error? No, this phenomenon is completely normal and is related to the location or time of leaf formation. In many species, the leaves that emerge on the long shoots early in winter develop a different shape than the leaves that grow on the short shoots later in the summer. After all, they have very different basic requirements. Other trees also have different foliage structures on their long and short shoots, such as larch.
On the quaking aspen, for example, the winter leaves are almost round and lobed at the edges. Their summer leaves, on the other hand, are triangular and have almost entire edges.
Autumn Coloring
All poplars are deciduous trees and shed their leaves in winter. Beforehand, it usually turns golden yellow to light brown or even reddish tones, which creates a decorative, speckled carpet of leaves on the ground.
Leaf shapes of individual Populus species
You can recognize the most common poplar species in Central Europe by the following leaf shapes:
Aspen
The quaking aspen or aspen is characterized by almost round, lobed edges and very long-stemmed leaves, which are known to move and “tremble” at the slightest breeze. The leaves, which appear in summer, have a triangular, entire-edged shape. The autumn color is a beautiful, pure golden yellow.
Silver Poplar
The silver poplar fascinates with its particularly varied leaf shapes: the early leaves that arise on the long shoots have an almost maple-like curved shape and have white, felt-like hair on the underside. The late short-shoot leaves, on the other hand, are more egg-shaped, have wavy edges and are only slightly hairy on the underside.
Balsam Poplar
The leaves of this black-barked species are more elongated than those of most members of the genus - ovate to almost lanceolate and with a long tip. Their surface is smooth and comparatively dark green, the underside is whitish and downy. The edges are very finely sawn.
Black Poplar
You can recognize the long shoot leaves of the black poplar by their rhombic appearance, the short shoot leaves by their more egg-shaped appearance.
