Plant Details

Populus alba

White Poplar

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Common names

53 names · 36 languages
EnglishYour language
+3 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (35)
Dutch
  • Witte abdeel
  • Witte abeel[2]
  • Witte populier
French
  • Peuplier blanc[2]
Afrikaans
Arabic
  • حور أبيض[2]
Basque
  • Makal zuria[2]
Belarusian
  • Таполя белая[2]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
  • Bijela topola[2]
Czech
  • topol bílý[2]
Danish
  • Sølv-poppel[2]
Estonian
Finnish
  • hopeapoppeli[2]
German
Greek
  • Ασημόλευκα[2]
Hebrew
  • צפצפה מכסיפה[2]
Hungarian
  • fehér nyár[2]
Italian
  • Pioppo bianco[2]
Japanese
  • ウラジロハコヤナギ[2]
  • ギンドロ[2]
  • ハクヨウ[2]
Korean
Kurdish
  • سپی چنار[2]
Latvian
  • Baltā apse[2]
Lithuanian
  • Baltoji Tuopa[2]
Norwegian
  • sølvpoppel[2]
Polish
  • Topola biała[2]
Portuguese
  • Choupo-branco[2]
Russian
  • Тополь белый[2]
  • Тополь серебристый[2]
Slovak
  • topoľ biely[2]
Slovenian
  • Beli topol[2]
Spanish
  • Alamo blanco[1]
  • Álamo blanco[2]
  • Álamo plateado[2]
Swedish
  • silverpoppel[2]
  • vitpoppel[2]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Тополя біла[2]
West Frisian
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Populus alba L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Silber-Pappel (DE); White poplar (EN); Alamo blanco (ES) — VernacularName.tsv, line 161538; taxon 4LVJ5.
[2] Populus alba — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • white poplar — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Witte abeel — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • European white poplar — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Àlber — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Silber-Pappel — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Choupo-branco — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • silver poplar — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Abele — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Weiß-Pappel — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • צפצפה מכסיפה — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Peuplier blanc — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Álamo blanco — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Álamo plateado — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • topol bílý — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Sølv-poppel — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Тополь белый — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • sølvpoppel — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Pioppo bianco — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • hopeapoppeli — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Topola biała — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • silverpoppel — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Baltoji Tuopa — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • 银白杨 — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • ウラジロハコヤナギ — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • hõbehaab — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • hõbepappel — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Ασημόλευκα — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • 銀白楊 — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Abeel — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Witpopulier — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Makal zuria — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Таполя белая — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Тополя біла — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • fehér nyár — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Beli topol — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • ギンドロ — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • 은백양 — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Baltā apse — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • حور أبيض — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • ハクヨウ — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • 白杨 — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • topoľ biely — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Abeelje — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Bijela topola — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Ak Kavak — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Тополь серебристый — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • vitpoppel — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Silver popple — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • Abbey — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.
  • سپی چنار — results[0].names[51]; taxon id 47570; Populus alba.

General information

Scientific name: Populus alba
Accepted name (Kew): Populus alba L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Salicaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Populus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: White Poplar
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 15.24–22.86 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 1.22–1.83 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Erect, Rounded, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Wood, Windbreak, Pioneer species, Dye

Description

The translation is correct as follows: "Leaves are rich in vitamin C. To retain the vitamins in the leaves, it is recommended to steam or lightly cook them instead of overcooking them."

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/10
Harvest ends: 28/02

Crown

Crown shape: Rounded
Sources [3]
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1426848; name ID 2917745; Populus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1426291; name ID 2917735; Populus alba L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Populus alba

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1011142, ID 4LVJ5: Populus alba L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Populus alba — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: Crown shapeHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Crown shape: Description: crown architecture
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .