Plants and Profits: Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)

Suggest quaking aspen when customers ask for . . .

• A rapid-growing tree for homes with large outdoor tracts
• A tree that can tolerate a variety of soil conditions
• Something with outstanding fall color
• A tree that’s hospitable to wildlife
• A tree with interesting or unusual bark

{The story}
Populus tremuloides, commonly known as quaking aspen, is the most widely distributed tree in North America. It typically grows well in USDA Hardiness Zones 1-7. Quaking aspen’s common name comes from its leaves, which tend to flutter and make a soft sound in the breeze. It’s also well known for its stunning fall color. Populus tremuloides is a fast-growing tree and has been known to reach almost 40-feet tall. The tree’s bark is also notable. The thin, white to gray-green bark is almost smooth with black areas around base of limbs. Over time, it becomes grayish and deeply furrowed.


Display and marketing possibilities

• Spotlight new cultivars that offer superior disease resistance
• Make quaking aspen the topic of a children’s seminar, highlighting how it can be found in widespread, diverse regions
• In fall, display large specimens at the front of your store to draw attention to the stellar fall color
• Cross merchandise with gift products made from quaking aspen bark
• Include quaking aspen and other “rustling” plants in a “plants you can hear” display