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Black Poplar

©Neil Wyatt

Black poplar

Scientific name: Populus nigra
The black poplar is a large tree of floodplains, flooded gravel pits and ditches, particularly in England. Despite being an important part of our culture for centuries, it has declined massively.

Species information

Statistics

Height: 20-25m

Conservation status

One of Britain's rarest trees.

When to see

January to December

About

Our native and wild black poplar is a massive tree, with a thick, fissured trunk, that can be found on floodplains, around flooded gravel pits and along ditches. It is particularly prevalent in Shropshire, Cheshire, Somerset, the Vale of Aylesbury and East Anglia, but populations have declined massively over the years. Black poplars have formed an important part of our landscape and culture for centuries, from being landmarks and a focus for celebration, to inspiring the famous painter, Constable, and providing timber for floorboards.

How to identify

The black poplar has deeply fissured bark, knobbly 'bosses' on its trunk and spreading branches that often touch the ground, before sweeping upwards again in a mass of twigs. It displays red catkins.

In our area

In Staffordshire we estimate there are around 80 black poplars and only a handful of these are females, three confirmed to date. This scarcity of females, in combination with significant drainage of agricultural fields, has led to a steep decline in the species and made them a focus of our Staffordshire Biodiversity Action Plan.

They grow best in boggy conditions, near ditches and floodplains, so if you’re headed out on a riverside walk please keep an eye out for them and let us know if you find any!

In spring (April) the males and females have catkins, the males are red and the females (very rare) have yellow/green catkins. Once female catkins are fertilised they go fluffy in summer (usually June).

If you think you’ve found a black poplar please take photographs of the leaves and bark, and send them and the exact location to our Head of Nature Recovery Networks Dave Cadman via email d.cadman@staffs-wildlife.org.uk

For information about hybrd black poplars head to their species page here.

Distribution

Found in England and Wales.

Habitats

Did you know?

To reproduce, male and female black poplars need to be sited close to each other. The fertilised seeds need to fall on damp ground, making river valleys perfect places for this species. But the drainage of the land for agricultural has made it difficult for these wetland trees and they have slowly disappeared from the landscape. A recent survey estimated there are only 7000 black poplars in England, Wales and Ireland, of which 600 are female.

How people can help

The Wildlife Trusts manage many wetland nature reserves for the benefit of the wildlife they support. You can help by supporting your local Trust and becoming a member; you'll find out about exciting wildlife news, events on your doorstep and volunteering opportunities, and will be helping local wildlife along the way.