Populus tomentosa Seeds | Chinese White Poplar
LATIN NAME: Populus tomentosa
COMMON NAME: Chinese White Poplar
Plant Profile
Chinese White Poplar (Populus tomentosa) is a tree in the willow family. The Chinese white poplar is a tall, silver tree of old roads, and small, greyish catkins hang among broad leaves. It is a tree of open, sunny, deep, moist, well-drained ground. Pollinating insects take to the flowers at once, adding a little wildlife interest to its garden value. Taken as a whole, it is a plant that repays a little attention many times over.
Science & Biotechnology
Poplars are the unrecognised pharmacy of the riverside: their resinous buds — the original source material bees collect to make propolis — are rich in flavonoids such as pinocembrin and chrysin, with documented antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity, and the bark carries salicin-type glycosides related to the willow chemistry that led to aspirin. Traditional uses for pain and infection follow directly from that chemistry. As a tree, Chinese white poplar is a fast, silvery-backed giant, one of the finest windbreaks for large gardens.
Botanists studying the willow family regularly include Populus tomentosa in comparative work, and the species also appears in horticultural trials aimed at gardeners and growers. Continuing work by breeders and collectors keeps good seed of this species moving through the trade.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Chinese White Poplar for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. The Chinese white poplar is a fine, bold tree of old road and river bank. Give young tree deep, moist bed with room to grow into tall crown. Raise the seedlings with basic care and grow them on. It takes hold quickly and asks for no special treatment from then on.
Poplars gave medicine its gentle spring remedy: the resinous buds, balm-of-Gilead, are a traditional chest-rub and salve ingredient rich in salicin relatives, and bees turn poplar resin into propolis.
Growing from Seed
Chinese White Poplar is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. Broadcast the seed thinly over a fine, free-draining compost, sieve a little more compost on top, and water with a fine rose. Pot the young plants on as they grow, harden them off gradually, and plant them into their final positions when sturdy.
Our Take
Once established, Chinese White Poplar largely looks after itself. Once the young plants are away, there is little left to do but watch them grow.
Related Reading
More species in the same orbit as Chinese White Poplar: