Overview
Populus x rouleauana, Rouleau's poplar, is a hybrid poplar within the genus Populus spp., grown as a fast-growing deciduous tree. It develops an upright, broadly oval crown 40–70 feet (12–21 m) tall with a straight trunk and grey, furrowed bark on older wood. The leaves are broadly oval to triangular, 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) long, with toothed margins and flattened stalks that let them flutter in the wind. Foliage emerges green and turns yellow before dropping in autumn. Like other poplars it carries drooping catkins in early spring before the leaves, with male and female flowers on separate trees; female trees release cottony seeds in late spring. The tree grows quickly and establishes fast for screening, but the soft wood is brittle and prone to storm breakage, and the spreading roots can lift paving and invade drains. It is short-lived compared with slow-growing hardwoods. It grows in moist soils along watercourses and in open ground.
Native Range
Populus x rouleauana is a hybrid poplar of North American origin, arising within the genus Populus spp.. Its parent species are native to North America, where poplars grow along rivers, floodplains, and in moist open ground.Suggested Uses
Used as a fast screen, windbreak, and shelterbelt on large, open, moist sites. The catkins supply early pollen for bees. Plants are spaced 15–25 feet (4.5–7.5 m) apart away from buildings and drains.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height40' - 70'
Width/Spread20' - 35'
Reaches mature size in approximately 15 years
Bloom Information
Drooping catkins open in early spring, from March to April, before the leaves emerge. Male and female catkins grow on separate trees, and wind carries the pollen. Female trees release cottony, wind-borne seeds in late spring.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun in moist, deep soil, tolerating a soil pH from 5.5 to 7.5 and seasonal wet ground. Water needs are medium to high, as poplars favour damp sites near water. Hardy in USDA zones 3–8, it withstands cold winters. Growth is rapid, often several feet a year when young. The roots spread widely and aggressively and can lift paving and enter drains where the tree grows near buildings and pipes. The soft wood is brittle and breaks in storms, and the tree is short-lived.Pruning
Dead, damaged, or crossing branches are removed in late winter while dormant. The fast growth may need thinning to reduce wind resistance on the brittle wood. Suckers from the roots are cut away as they appear.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter