Would you be able to identify aspen while out walking? We want to make aspen as well-known and widely appreciated as oak, hazel and rowan!
Size and shape
- Aspen is generally a slender tree, featuring a long trunk with perpendicular branches.
- A medium-sized tree, aspen can grow to a height of 65ft, but is often stunted in exposed locations.
Bark and trunk
- Aspen bark is typically creamy grey in colour, and often greyer at the base.
- With age, it becomes pitted with bands of small black diamonds.
- A greenish tinge to the bark hints at the trunk's ability to photosynthesise.
Suckers
- Clusters of long, whip-like suckers grow beside or near to an adult parent tree.
- These suckers are genetic clones of the parent.
- When small, saplings or suckers have triangular green, softly furred leaves.
- At 6½ft in height, leaves become like those of the adult tree.
Leaves
- Leaves are rounded to slightly oval with curved marginal teeth.
- Late to emerge and often have a red hue before turning green.
- Mature leaves are green on both sides with a paler underside.
- Leaves are attached by long, flattened petioles (stalks), which allow for their characteristic quivering/trembling.
- In autumn, the leaves can at first turn various shades of red or orange but always come to be a bright yellow, perhaps the brightest yellow of any of our native trees.
- Where many trees are present this can paint a whole landscape yellow.
Catkins
- Catkins are either male or female. Both grow in clusters and can be up to 3in long.
- Male catkins are floppy and a reddish/pale purple. These develop powdery yellow pollen before being cast from the tree in April.
- Female catkins are firmer, fluffier and green but tinged with pink. These remain on the tree until late May/June once their seeds are dispersed.
Listen!
Aspen leaves trembling in the breeze make a characteristic whispering sound.
LISTEN HERE
