Poplar - Aspen (Populus tremula)

Our range of Aspen bare root trees (Populus tremula)

We have Populus tremula bare root trees in several sizes. The 1+0 specification plants are seedlings (often called whips) which were sown from seed in the spring and are sold during the following November to April months ie they are 1 year old.  We have them in several heights.

In addition we have cell grown Populus tremula plants which are grown by one of the UK's best specialist growers and these are ideal for forestry or woodland creation or amenity planting but can also be used for domestic planting schemes and these plants are available all year round.

You can read more about the specifications we offer on the tab just below the pricing table to the right of this product description.

Aspen (Populus tremula) Summary

The leaf stalks are very flexible which gives this beautiful tree the impression of trembling foliage or to use one of its common names “quaking”.   Aspen trees need sunlight and moist soil but will grow in any soil type including boggy soils. They are quite wildlife friendly attracting a range of insects and birds.  Beavers have a particular fondness for aspen.   Aspen is a pioneer species of tree, quick to establish in a new woodland, able to colonise bare ground poor in nutrients, and providing shade later for shade-loving trees to thrive.

Soil and Situation

Populus tremula is native to cool regions hence often found in the north west of Scotland, in moist soil (often on well-draining riverbanks).  They can cope with sea salt, windy sites and elevated positions.  Ideally Aspens prefer dry summers, but if you can arrange that to suit, you're cleverer than me!

Leaves, flowers and fruit

Opening copper coloured before turning green, the leaves are rounded with blunt teeth.  The most unusual characteristic of Aspen leaves is their flutteryness due to flat and flexible leaf stalks. This adaption increases the rate of transpiration and seems to accelerate mineral uptake from thin, wet soils, increasing glucose production against the odds.  Leaves turn bright yellow in autumn, sometimes tinged with red.   The flowers are pinkish coloured catkins and the female flowers release fluffy seeds onto the wind.  It reproduces by suckering, generating a large number of clones.

Eventual height and growth rate

Aspen trees will grow to about 15m making them a medium to large sized tree.  Growth rate is very fast – up to 2m pa which is a characteristic that makes them very suitable for windbreaks as well as being grown for timber.

This section gives definitions on the specifications of plants that we sell.  We are specialists in field grown (or bare root) plants which are grown in two ways.  The majority are grown from seed, some are ready within one growing season (seedlings or 1+0's) and some species require two growing seasons (1u1's).  In addition to growing from seed we also grow from small plants or cuttings (transplants) which are much more widely spaced (taking more land, more irrigation water, fertilisers and labour).  There are only a handful of bare root wholesale nurseries in the UK and of those even fewer grow transplants but Ray Jenkins has many years' experience of transplanting so we grow these in large volumes.  Ray has written this blog about the benefits of bare root plants and how they are grown and another blog which gives further detail on bare root specifications.

The detailed specifications are shown below.  If you are in doubt about what specification to use please email us on enquiries@rjtreesandhedging.co.uk with a description of the project (and photos if appropriate) and we will advise you.

1+0 - field grown in one season from seed, known as a seedling (sometimes called a whip), generally a slender single stem plant.   These are the cheapest specification and are particularly suitable for planting where weed competition will be less intense, soil is shallow or on exposed windy sites.  Gives a high root to shoot ratio and minimal plant "check".

2+0 - a 2 year seedling, field grown from seed in the same seed bed in two growing seasons where the species cannot be grown to a saleable plant from seed in one season

1U1 - 2 year old plant called an undercut, field grown for two seasons in the same seed bed and undercut by machine (a sharp blade cutting the roots under the soil level) after the first year to develop the root structure. We do this with several species which take 2 years to develop (eg oak, beech, hornbeam)

1+1 - 2 year old plant (transplant) grown from seed in the first year and then transplanted into a different area of the field and spaced out for the second growing season - a robust plant with a larger and more robust root system than seedling or undercut plant which will enable it to better withstand drought and weed competition. Often the best choice and the staple norm for farm hedging and this specification is a requirement of the Countryside Stewardship Grant

1+2- a 3 year old plant, two years field growing in the seedbed and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further two growing seasons giving a tall, stocky, bushy plant

2+1- a 3 year old plant, two years field growing in the seedbed and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further growing season, giving a strong bushy plant

3+1 - as above but field grown for a further growing season for more height and a very bushy plant

1+3- 4 year old, one year field growing in the seed beds and then transplanted (and spaced out) for three years, giving a very strong, bushy plant

2+2- 4 year old, two years field growing in the seed beds and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further two years - a very mature plant suited to certain species like beech and hornbeam where we can offer almost instant hedging

and some that are a bit different.....

P9 - a plant grown in a greenhouse or polytunnel in a 9cm pot (for holly which germinates poorly in the field)

Cell grown - a plant grown in small deep cells (like a small yogurt pot) and then lifted out of those for transportation. Commonly used in forestry and large hedging projects.  Very high quality plants with excellent success rate.  See our blog on the benefits of cell grown plants.

C+1 or C+2 - a 3 or 4 year old plant initally started as hardwood cuttings grown on for a year as cell grown plants and then lined out in fields to grow on for a further 1 or 2 years (a technique used for Cherry Laurel)

0/1 - a hardwood cutting, then field grown for one season (for example for white willow, black poplar and osier)