Trembling aspen

Populus tremuloides

Can be found throughout British Columbia east of the coastal mountain ranges, and is very common in the northeast of the province. It is able to sprout from root suckers and form clones of many individual stems. Trembling aspen grows best on moist, well-drained soils, especially soils rich in calcium, such as those derived from limestone. the leaves are Smooth, round to triangular-shaped with a flattened stalk that is longer than the leaf. They are dark green above, paler underneath and turn golden yellow or red in the fall. The flowers are borne in male and female catkins on separate trees. Male catkins are small, 2 to 3 centimeters long, and the female catkins are larger, 4 to 10 centimeters long. The bark is Smooth, green and doesn't peel. Aspen clones can often be distinguished in spring or fall when groups of stems leaf out or change colour all at once. These clones can get quite large and can be very long-lived. Some are estimated to be over 5,000 years old