Gray Poplar

Populus × canescens

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Salicaceae
Genus:
Populus
Species:
Populus × canescens

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Tree
Height:
More than 40 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
mar, apr, may

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Acleris fuscana, American hornet moth (Sesia tibialis), Blinded Sphinx (Paonias excaecata), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Forest Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), incurve tent caterpillar (Malacosoma incurva), maple-basswood leafroller (Sparganothis pettitana), Paraleucoptera albella, Phyllonorycter scudderella, poplar leafminer (Phyllonorycter populiella), Spiramater lutra, Western tent caterpillar (Malacosoma californica), White Satin Moth (Leucoma salicis), White Underwing (Catocala relicta), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), Red-spotted Purple (Basilarchia arthemis)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
moist, nutrient-rich, well-drained loam
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
Commonly found in floodplains and wet areas