Plant Details

Populus tremula

Aspen Poplar, European aspen, Aspen

Back

Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Populus tremula.

Use this plant

Log in to add this plant to your recipes.

Log in

Common names

61 names · 37 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Aspen[1]
  • Aspen Poplar
  • Common Aspen[2]
+3 more namesShow fewer names
  • European aspen[2]
  • Quaking Aspen[2]
  • waverly[2]
Other languages (36)
Dutch
  • Esp[2]
  • Ratelpopulier[2]
  • Trilpopulier
French
  • Peuplier tremble[2]
  • Tremble[2]
  • Tremble d'Europe[2]
Belarusian
  • Асіна[2]
Bulgarian
  • Трепетлика[2]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 欧洲山杨[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 歐洲山楊[2]
Czech
  • topol osika[2]
Danish
Estonian
  • harilik haab[2]
Finnish
German
Hebrew
  • צפצפה רעדנית[2]
Hungarian
  • Rezgő nyár[2]
Italian
  • Pioppo tremolo[2]
  • Pioppo tremulo[2]
Japanese
  • ヤマナラシ[2]
Korean
  • 사시나무[2]
Latvian
  • Parastā apse[2]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastoji drebulė[2]
Luxembourgish
Mongolian
  • Чичигнүүр улиас[2]
Northern Sami
Norwegian
Polish
  • Topola osika[2]
Portuguese
  • Choupo-tremedor[2]
Romanian
  • Plop tremurător[2]
Russian
  • Осина[2]
  • Тополь дрожащий[2]
Scottish Gaelic
Slovak
  • topoľ osikový[2]
Slovenian
  • trepetlika[2]
Spanish
  • Álamo temblón europeo[2]
Swedish
+2 more namesShow fewer names
Turkish
  • Titrek Kavak[2]
Ukrainian
  • Осика[2]
Welsh
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Gwiwydden[2]
  • Tafod y Gwragedd[2]
Language not specified
  • Zitter-Pappel[1]
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 tremula L. ↗

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

Source records
  • Aspen (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 161545; taxon 4LVQY.
  • Espe (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 161546; taxon 4LVQY.
  • Zitter-Pappel — VernacularName.tsv, line 161547; taxon 4LVQY.
[2] Populus tremula — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • European aspen — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Choupo-tremedor — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Tremble d'Europe — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • haapa — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • waverly — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Topola osika — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Tremble — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • topol osika — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Paprastoji drebulė — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Bævreasp — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Ratelpopulier — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Álamo temblón europeo — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Asp — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Осина — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Espe — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Aspe — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Zitterpappel — results[1].names[17]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Осика — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • osp — results[1].names[19]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Трепетлика — results[1].names[20]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • metsähaapa — results[1].names[21]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Trèmol — results[1].names[22]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • harilik haab — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • topoľ osikový — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Тополь дрожащий — results[1].names[25]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • 欧洲山杨 — results[1].names[26]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Esp — results[1].names[27]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Чичигнүүр улиас — results[1].names[28]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • asp [trädet] — results[1].names[29]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Esp — results[1].names[30]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Асіна — results[1].names[31]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • 歐洲山楊 — results[1].names[32]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • trepetlika — results[1].names[33]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Quaking Aspen — results[1].names[34]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Common Aspen — results[1].names[35]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Rezgő nyár — results[1].names[36]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Parastā apse — results[1].names[37]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Pioppo tremulo — results[1].names[38]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Pioppo tremolo — results[1].names[39]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Plop tremurător — results[1].names[40]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • ヤマナラシ — results[1].names[41]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • hängasp — results[1].names[42]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • pelarasp — results[1].names[43]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Peuplier tremble — results[1].names[44]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • 사시나무 — results[1].names[45]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • צפצפה רעדנית — results[1].names[46]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • metsähaapa — results[1].names[47]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • vanleg osp — results[1].names[48]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • suhpi — results[1].names[49]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Aethnenni — results[1].names[50]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Aethwydden — results[1].names[51]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Crydaethnen — results[1].names[52]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Gwiwydden — results[1].names[53]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Tafod y Gwragedd — results[1].names[54]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • critheann — results[1].names[55]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • crithinn — results[1].names[56]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.
  • Titrek Kavak — results[1].names[57]; taxon id 47571; Populus tremula.

General information

Scientific name: Populus tremula
Accepted name (Kew): Populus tremula 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: Aspen Poplar, European aspen, Aspen
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 18.00 m
Spread: 10.00 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Deciduous

Leaf retention described in the New England flora.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4-9
Soil moisture:
Wet, Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun, Partial shade

Uses

Edible parts:
Inner bark
Edibility rating:
(0)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Pioneer species, Windbreak, Wood

Description

The inner bark is dried, ground, and then added to flour to make bread and similar products. It is used as food during famines, when all other options have been depleted.

Harvest

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

Crown

Crown shape: Narrow pyramidal
Crown density: Semi-open 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 1426094; name ID 2917379; Populus tremula L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

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

    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 1011322, ID 4LVQY: Populus tremula L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. Native Plant Trust; Go Botany Populus tremula — Go Botany
    Supports: Foliage
    Relevant sections
    • Foliage: Leaf duration

    Source checked on .