Lombardy Poplar
Populus nigra
- Native to:
- Albania, Algeria, Austria, Baltic States, Belgium, Bulgaria, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, East Aegean Is., France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Morocco, Netherlands, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Wikimedia: Kenraiz
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Salicaceae
- Genus:
- Populus
- Species:
- Populus nigra
- USDA Symbol:
- PONI
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 3000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
American Dagger Moth (Acronicta americana), Angle-lined Prominent (Clostera inclusa), Clematis Sphinx (Sphinx luscitiosa), common aspen leafminer (Phyllocnistis populiella), Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidoides), dappled gray (Glena cribrataria), Egira dolosa, Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Hare-Lip Dagger Moth (Acronicta lepusculina), Herald (Scoliopteryx libatrix), Hornet Moth (Sesia apiformis), Ipimorpha nanaimo, Ipimorpha pleonectusa, Meske's underwing (Catocala meskei), Modest Sphinx (Pachysphinx modesta), Once-married Underwing (Catocala unijuga), One-eyed sphinx (Smerinthus cerisyi), Paraleucoptera albella, Portland Phosphila (Pheosia portlandia), Raphia frater, Red-washed Prominent (Oligocentria semirufescens), sleeping underwing (Catocala concumbens), Smeared Dagger Moth (Acronicta oblinita), Sweetheart Underwing (Catocala amatrix), Western tent caterpillar (Malacosoma californica), White Satin Moth (Leucoma salicis), White Underwing (Catocala relicta), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), woolly gray (Lycia ursaria), Dreamy Duskywing (Erynnis icelus), Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes), Red-spotted Purple (Basilarchia arthemis)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Hummingbirds: Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- yellow
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to alkaline)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers riverbanks and floodplains
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds are very short-lived; sow fresh on moist surface without covering. Cold stratification may improve germination of stored seed.