Populus × canescens
Common name: 
Gray Poplar
Pronunciation: 
pop-U-lus ka-NES-enz
Family: 
Salicaceae
Genus: 
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Deciduous tree, large tree, 40-70 ft (12-21 m); spreading.  Leaves simple, alternate, on long shoots triangular-ovate, 6-12 cm long, margins slightly undulated, dark green above, silvery gray and densely woolly underneath.  Leaves on short shoots oval rounded.  Flowers (catkins) 6-10 cm long.
  • Young shoots are gray, not white as in P. alba.
  • Sun
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 3      Native to Europe and Asia Minor, in cultivation for centuries. A hybrid of P. alba and P. tremula.
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: southeast of  Community Hall (formerly Benton), often afflicted with leaf diseases, e.g., leaf spot.  This particular campus tree is known as the Trysting Tree.
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit

    plant habit

  • plant habit, showing silver underside

    plant habit, showing silver underside

  • leafy shoot

    leafy shoot

  • leaves and immature seed catkin

    leaves and immature seed catkin

  • seed catkin at seed release

    seed catkin at seed release

  • plant habit, winter

    plant habit, winter

  • trunk, bark

    trunk, bark

  • winter twigs, buds

    winter twigs, buds