Quaking Aspen

Populus tremuloides

Quaking aspen is a smaller (to 50′) deciduous tree with shiny heart-shaped leaves that shimmy elegantly, even in a gentle breeze. The smooth white bark contrasts with the deep green leaves and becomes furrowed as the trunk ages. In autumn, the leaves turn vibrant yellow. While quaking aspen is infrequent west of the Cascades now, it is thought to have been more common in the Willamette Valley before the 1800’s. It grows well in moist areas where it can stabilize soil. Quaking aspen is rhizomatous and can produce genetically identical stands (clones) from a single individual.