Poplar (Aspen)–populus spp.

photo of Poplar trees.

Poplar or trembling Aspen is a common tree throughout Ontario. An early successional species, it is often the first tree to grow on a newly disturbed site. Native Poplar in Ontario also includes large-toothed Aspen and balsam Poplar.

Poplar has a very light, soft wood, and is commonly used in composite board products, as well as pulp and paper. Poplar represents 18% of Ontario’s annual harvest, and is 22% of its growing stock volume.

Map of Poplar relative occurrence

map of Poplar distribution in Ontario indicating low (light brown), moderate and high (dark green-brown) levels of relative occurrence.

Enlarge map of Poplar relative occurrence

Area and proportion of Poplar in the AOU (area in hectares)

Statistic Crown Parks and protected areas Other Total
Total Area Containing Poplar (Aspen) 13,240,632 1,139,786 2,279,706 16,660,124
1-25% of stand 7,300,184 649,465 1,015,165 8,964,814
26-50% of stand 3,553,971 311,793 695,689 4,561,453
51-75% of stand 1,432,739 112,068 296,988 1,841,795
76-100% of stand 953,738 66,460 271,864 1,292,062
Average Proportion in All Forest (%) 15.4 20.9 13.6 15.9
Area of Poplar (Aspen) Working Group 4,485,266 384,120 1,090,565 5,959,951

Growing stock volume of Poplar in the AOU (volume in thousands of cubic metres)

Statistic Crown Parks and protected areas Other Total
Gross Total Volume 821,498 79,896 188,643 1,090,037
Net Merchantable Volume 493,794 46,726 122,956 663,476
Current Annual Increment 7,105 380 1,238 8,723

Poplar working group area by age class

vertical bar graph of the Poplar working group area by age class including brown for Crown, green for park and grey for other.