Populus alba
White poplar, White Poplar
(c) Leon Perrie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Salicaceae · Type: Tree · Not Native
Populus alba (White poplar) is a non-native California tree in the Salicaceae family, recognized by lobed leaves and white-tomentose features.
White poplar is a naturalized tree found in the Klamath Ranges, California Ranges, Great Basin, and other areas near human settlements at elevations of 600 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from April to June, this tree produces small catkins in distinctive white-tomentose branches. Growing up to 20 meters tall with a wide, spreading crown, the tree has striking white-woolly twigs and winter buds. Its leaves are 3 to 9 centimeters long, with 3 to 5 lobes, blue-green and glossy on top, and white-woolly underneath, featuring a truncate to slightly heart-shaped base. The distinctively white-covered foliage makes this tree easily recognizable in disturbed landscapes near human habitation.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; lobed leaves and white-tomentose features are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed places near settlements
Elevation: 600-1800 m
Outside California: native to central Europe, central Asia
Bloom period
Populus alba blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Quercus: Poplar leaves flutter conspicuously on flat petioles; oaks have stiff leaves that don't flutter and produce acorns.; vs Salix: Poplar catkins hang downward like tassels; willow catkins stand upright or spread outward.; vs Pyrus: Poplars have catkins and cottony seeds; pears have showy white flowers and round pear-shaped fruits.; vs Platanus: Poplar bark is furrowed; sycamore bark peels in puzzle-piece patches revealing white inner bark.; vs Alnus: Poplar catkins are soft and pendulous; alder has woody cone-like structures that persist through winter.
Frequently asked questions
Is Populus alba native to California?
No. Populus alba is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Populus alba bloom?
Populus alba blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Populus alba belong to?
Populus alba is in the Salicaceae family, genus Populus.
What habitat does Populus alba grow in?
Populus alba grows in Disturbed places near settlements.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.