Pyramidal poplar

Willow family. Native range is not precisely known, presumably Afghanistan, Asia Minor, the Himalayas.

A slender tree up to 30 m tall, with a very narrow, columnar crown that clothes the trunk of a freely standing tree down to the ground. Due to the abundance of this species in cultivation in Italy, it is often called "Italian" or "Lombardy poplar". Morphologically (except for the shape of the crown) it differs little from the black poplar, but ecologically it differs very much. Leaves are rhombic or triangular (as in black poplar), but somewhat smaller; leafing and flowering occur earlier than in black poplar; leaf fall is in late October - early November, so its growing season is longer, and its winter hardiness is lower.

In cultivation mainly male specimens are encountered (female ones are found in the cities of the Lower Volga region). Longevity in urban plantings depends on site conditions. A very striking tree for solitary, group, row and avenue plantings. With its monumental, pyramidal, dark-green crown it gives the landscape a distinct southern character, reminiscent of slender, pyramidal cypresses. Good for quickly creating green protective screens.

based on materials from the website www.ultradrome.narod.ru