Native Aspen Trees In Wisconsin (2 Types You Must Know)
A wide variety of native tree species, each with its own distinct allure and ecological significance, enhance Wisconsin’s natural beauty. Among these captivating trees, aspens shine prominently, with their distinctive quivering leaves and striking white bark.
This article will explore two native aspen trees in Wisconsin: the quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) and the bigtooth aspen (Populus grandidentata). Each tree is provided with high-quality photos and detailed descriptions of its bark, leaves, flowers, and other wood for easier identification.
Let’s get started.
1. Quaking Aspen
- Common Name: Quaking Aspen
- Scientific Name: Populus tremuloides
- Mature Height: 60 to 70 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Male and female catkins; wind-disseminated seeds
- Uses: Manufacturing of pulpwood, low-grade lumber
The Quaking Aspen is a small to medium-sized tree that thrives throughout Wisconsin. The tree typically grows to 60 to 70 feet in height and has a slender, open, spherical crown. The tree’s stems are usually clear of dead branches.
Quaking Aspen is one of the first species to emerge following a cut or fire, usually seen on the cutover ground. The Quaking Aspen’s bark is thin and white to gray-green, with black spots around the base of the limbs. The bark’s insides are bitter.
The leaves are tiny and generally oval, with a short-pointed tip and sharply serrated margins. The leaves are green and lustrous on the top and dull green on the bottom. Even a modest breeze causes the leaves to quiver or tremble due to the flat leaf stalks.
Male and female catkins can be found on different trees. The fruit is a capsule that ripens in late spring (May or June) before the leaves fully expand. There are numerous seeds inside each capsule, each of which has long, white hairs that the wind scatters. After a tree is cut down, regeneration happens mostly through root suckering.
The Quaking Aspen’s wood is light brown and ringed by thick, virtually white sapwood. The wood is light, delicate, and not particularly sturdy. It is widely utilized in the production of pulpwood for books and magazine papers, as well as low-grade timber.
2. Bigtooth Aspen
- Common Name: Bigtooth Aspen, Poplar, Popple
- Scientific Name: Populus grandidentata
- Mature Height: 60 to 80 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native to North America
- Flowers/Cones: Male and female catkins on separate trees; capsules containing many seeds surrounded by long white hairs
- Uses: Primary source of raw material for pulp and paper, hardboard, wafer board, oriented strand board, lumber, matchsticks, lath, and shavings.
Bigtooth Aspen is a medium to big deciduous tree that can reach heights of 60 to 80 feet. Its slender branches form a small, rounded crown with dark green, alternating, coarse-toothed leaves.
The leaves have a dark green upper surface and are 3 to 4 inches long. When young, the leaves of the Bigtooth Aspen are silvery white. The bark of the tree is smooth, gray, or yellowish-green in color, with furrows and a dark brown tint near the base of older trees.
Bigtooth Aspen blooms in May, with male and female catkins ranging in length from 4 to 6 inches on different trees. The fruit is a capsule about a quarter-inch long. Long white hairs encircle many wind-dispersed seeds in the capsules.
The tree is native to North America and can be found throughout the state, but it favors moist sandy, or rich soils. Bigtooth Aspen is used in various industries, including pulp and paper, hardboard, wafer board, oriented strand board, lumber, matchsticks, lath, and shavings.
It also serves as the main source of raw materials for these businesses, and the residue left over from their operations is either burned directly as green fuel or used to make densified wood fuels (pellets).
Native Aspen Trees In Wisconsin – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This section answers some of the most frequently asked questions about Wisconsin’s native aspen trees. Novice gardeners and tree enthusiasts pose these questions in various gardening and nature-related online forums and threads.
Are there aspen trees in Wisconsin?
There are aspen trees in Wisconsin, and they are pretty common in the state. Specifically, the quaking aspen and big tooth aspen are native to Wisconsin and can be found throughout the state. Aspen trees are known for their distinctive white bark and leaves that “tremble” or quiver in the wind, giving them their common name. They are common in mixed forests and play an important role in Wisconsin’s natural landscape.
Where can you find the maximum number of aspen trees in Wisconsin?
The northern part of Wisconsin has a high concentration of aspen trees. The expansive forests of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest have the highest concentration of aspen trees. This national forest encompasses over 1.5 million acres and is spread across several counties in northern Wisconsin, including Ashland, Bayfield, Sawyer, Price, and Vilas. This forest’s diverse ecosystems provide an ideal environment for aspen trees to thrive.
Aspen trees can also be found in other forests and wooded areas throughout Wisconsin’s northern and central regions.
What are the uses of aspen trees in Wisconsin?
Aspen trees in Wisconsin serve a variety of functions and provide numerous benefits. They are used to supply timber and pulpwood for furniture, cabinetry, and paper products. Aspen forests provide valuable wildlife habitat for birds, mammals, and a variety of plant species. The trees help to stabilize the soil, preventing erosion and protecting the water quality.
Furthermore, the scenic beauty of aspen forests improves recreational opportunities such as hiking and photography. Sustainable management practices are critical for preserving the availability of aspen resources and the ecological balance in Wisconsin’s forests.
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Sources
The Regional Gardening team makes sure that the information in our articles is accurate by only using sources that are known to be trustworthy. Some of these sources are peer-reviewed journals from government agencies, well-known universities, and scientific research organizations.
- Tree Planting, Wisconsin Department Of Natural Resources
- Trees Identification, Wisconsin Department Of Natural Resources
- Forest Trees Of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Department Of Natural Resources
- Trees of Wisconsin Field Guide, Book by Stan Tekiela
