European aspen Populus tremula
European aspen (Populus tremula) is a deciduous perennial tree in the Salicaceae family, native to Europe and northern Asia. It grows 10–25 m (33–82 ft) tall and 5–10 m (16–33 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -45 °C (-49 °F). Space plants about 6 m (20 ft) apart.
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European aspen at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Salicaceae |
| Mature height | 10–25 m (33–82 ft) |
| Mature spread | 5–10 m (16–33 ft) |
| Spacing | 6 m (20 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -45 °C (-49 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 2) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 30 °C (86 °F) |
| Flowering | from about April for 1–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Europe and northern Asia |
| Common in gardens of | 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇩🇪 Germany |
Is European aspen toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with European aspen
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Questions about European aspen
- How far apart should I plant European aspen?
- About 6 m (20 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 5–10 m (16–33 ft).
- Does European aspen need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does European aspen need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is European aspen?
- It tolerates about -45 °C (-49 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 2.
- When does European aspen flower?
- From about April for 1–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is European aspen poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with European aspen?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for European aspen. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Norwegian species and red-list information, Artsdatabanken
- Euro+Med PlantBase, Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin
Notes and assumptions
- Trembling round leaves turn gold to orange; old aspens host many rare lichens and insects. Suckers freely: keep away from lawns and drains.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Weeping willow Salix babylonica
- Trembling aspen Populus tremuloides
- Goat willow (pussy willow) Salix caprea
- Kei apple (umkokola) Dovyalis caffra
- Box-leaf azara (vanilla tree) Azara microphylla
- Dwarf mountain pine Pinus mugo
- Japanese maple Acer palmatum
- Black walnut Juglans nigra