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Balsam Poplar

Balsam poplar is the other common poplar in our region. This is our resident 'big tree' I have one in back of my house that is close to 80 feet tall and 3' across at the stump.

This tree is NOT suitable for a city lot. It gets too big. Its roots are close to the surface, and have an awesome power to move sidewalks.

Balsam need water -- lots of water. Commonly they are found near streams and in the low plains near the river. A large poplar will transpire 300 litres of water on a warm summer day. It's best when landscaping for poplar to create a swale or gentle sided ditch so that natural runoff is toward the tree. They are one of the few trees that can tolerated saturated soil for long periods of time.

Balsam poplar can be planted to good effect on either side of a lane or driveway, But set them back 20 feet from the centre.

There is a system for septic fields now that uses 'water pump' trees to pull excess water from the black water. I sold a bunch of poplar to an acreage owner near Drayton Valley who was doing this.

This tree can be dangerous if grown by the house. A ton of tree falling from 80 feet has more impact than a piano. They will usually let you know some years before they fall. You'll see more dead twigs in the crown. When you see whole dead branches, it's time to take it down and use it for firewood. I have one that was hit by lightning last summer and has a spiral fracture line running from crown to root. Alas the house is in reach, so it's coming down this summer.

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Balsam Poplar		Populus balsamifera
Location	Potsize	Height	Count	Price
PA3	#2 Stuewe tall pot	48-72 in.	43	$21.00