Populus x canescens
Grey Poplar
Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Populus x canescens.
Plant photos
2 photos · Select to enlarge
A Populus × canescens tree.
AnRo0002 / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
Photo details
Resized and converted to WebP. No content edits.
Source: File:20120827Populus × canescens.jpg
Reviewed . Source identification, photograph and license reviewed. The image illustrates the named plant; it does not verify dimensions or other plant traits.
Autumn foliage of Populus × canescens.
Le.Loup.Gris / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo details
Resized and converted to WebP. No content edits.
Source: File:Populus × canescens (fall foliage).jpg
Reviewed . Source identification, photograph and license reviewed. The image illustrates the named plant; it does not verify dimensions or other plant traits.
Common names
4 names · 4 languages- EnglishYour language
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- Grey Poplar[1]
Sources & name notes (1)
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.
Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.
Source records
- Grau-Pappel (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 161560; taxon 4LVSD.
- Grey Poplar (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 161561; taxon 4LVSD.
General information
Plant characteristics
Growing conditions
Moist
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Full sun
Uses
Inner bark
Pioneer species, Windbreak, Wood
Description
Inner bark - raw or cooked. It can be dried, ground into powder, and then added to grain flour to make bread and such. It has a very bitter taste and is only used as food during famine, when all other options have been exhausted. Young shoots - cooked. Not very tasty.
Harvest
Crown
Sources and references
References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
Relevant sections
- Taxonomy: WCVP version 16, wcvp_names.csv: Populus × canescens (Aiton) Sm., name ID 2917278, row 1425971
- Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1426848; name ID 2917745; Populus L.. Family column.
Source checked on .
Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.
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Catalogue of Life
Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Populus × canescens
Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.
Supports: TaxonomyRelevant sections
- Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1011359, ID 4LVSD: Populus × canescens (Aiton) Sm. (accepted).
Source checked on .