Species black poplar

black poplar

Populus nigra 'Italica'

Populus nigra 'Italica', or black poplar, is a medium-sized deciduous tree featuring a wide-spreading, pyramid-shaped, or sometimes columnar crown. It has narrowly oval, dark green leaves with a gray wooly underside. The buds and twigs are bright yellow. Its bark is dark gray and deeply furrowed. It is a commonly cultivated tree, originally native to south-eastern Europe and western Asia, growing in a wide range of soils. It is an excellent ornamental tree for large properties with ample space and is favored for its easy pollination and relatively long lifespan.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Cutting

Hardiness Zone:

3 - 9

Flowers:

Red Flowers In Spring

Sun:

Full sun

Soil:

Well-drained

Fruits:

green,brown Fruits Ready In Fall

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Moderate

Maintenance:

Moderate

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

The Black Poplar should typically receive approximately 1 inch of water per week, preferably in 1 deep watering. Water thoroughly when the surface of the soil is dry to the touch, making sure the water reaches all the way to the bottom of the root system. Do not allow the soil to become soggy as this can lead to root rot. During especially hot weather, you may need to water twice per week.

sunlight

Black poplar (Populus nigra 'Italica') is a deciduous tree that grows best in full or partial sunlight. It prefers to receive approximately 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily, although it can tolerate some afternoon shade. It is also recommended to avoid direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day between 12-3pm to reduce the risk of sunburn and sunscald. When possible, this species should be planted in a location that avoids excessive reflected heat from nearby buildings, walls, or other surfaces.

pruning

Black Poplar (Populus nigra 'Italica') trees should be pruned in late winter or early spring. The goal when pruning is to maintain the overall shape of the tree and promote new growth without removing excessive amounts of the existing canopy. Pruning should be done to thin out, reduce, or remove dead, damaged, or diseased wood, branches that are rubbing or crossing, crossing roots, and low-hanging branches. Any branches that are too long should be cut back to an appropriate length. Additionally, it is important to remove any suckers or shoots originating from the rootstock or trunk, as those will lead to an abnormal growth pattern if left in place. Finally, any crossing or rubbing branches should be pruned back, as they can create infection and decay.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Black poplar typically starts flowering in April.

Harvest Fruit

The best time to start harvesting the fruits from Populus nigra 'Italica' is in the months of April and May.

Hardiness Map