Poplars are part of the willow family, and you’ve probably seen them gracing local parks with their swaying, shimmering crowns. The Black and White poplars are the most famous of the bunch, and when these trees are happy with their growing conditions, they can stick around for a surprisingly long time.
How Long Do Poplars Live?
If you’re looking to add some serious height to your yard in a hurry, a poplar is your best friend. These guys are speed demons, sometimes shooting up by as much as three feet in a single year! It only takes a few years for a poplar to tower over 100 feet tall. However, how long they’ll continue to provide shade or mark your property line really depends on the specific variety. Generally speaking, you can expect a poplar to live for about 100 years.
A Look at the Different Species
A lot depends on where the poplars are growing and what they’re being used for. If they are being grown for industrial wood production, they’re usually harvested after only about 20 or 25 years—just a quarter of their natural lifespan. Out in the wild, though, they live much longer. There are four main types you’ll run into:
- The Black Poplar
- The Balsam Poplar
- The Quaking Aspen
- The White Poplar
The Black Poplar is a massive, majestic tree often known for its gnarled, character-filled trunk. In the right spot, it hits about 100 feet tall and typically lives between 100 and 150 years. In rare cases, these giants can even reach the ripe old age of 300!
The Balsam Poplar is famous for its lovely, resinous scent and is another fast grower, adding about 30 inches a year. It usually tops out around 65 feet and lives for 100 to 150 years.
The Quaking Aspen (or Aspen) stays a bit smaller than its cousins, usually reaching about 65 feet. These beauties rarely live past the 100-year mark.
Finally, the White Poplar is a true titan, with specimens often soaring over 130 feet. Their trunks can grow to absolutely massive proportions, too. In fact, back in 1904, a 500-year-old White Poplar fell in Hungary that had a trunk diameter of over 11 feet and a circumference of more than 36 feet!
