quaking aspen
Quick Summary
The quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is a tree native to the Northern Hemisphere, belonging to the willow family (Salicaceae). It is known for its small, nearly circular leaves with flattened petioles and finely serrated margins that flutter in the slightest breeze. Aspens grow farther north and at higher elevations than other Populus species.12
Key characteristics include smooth, gray-green bark, random branching, and leaves that turn brilliant yellow in the fall. Male and female catkins appear before the leaves in spring, with separate trees bearing each type. The American quaking aspen is distinguished by its leaves, which have more pointed tips, and it reproduces via root suckers, allowing individual clones to persist for thousands of years.1
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