Populus tremula
Aspen
How do you recognise aspen?
The leaf has a long stalk and a roundish blade with a wavy or bluntly toothed edge, hairless and paler green underneath. The leaves grow spirally on short shoots. The stalk is flattened, which is why the leaves turn in the slightest breeze.
What is it confused with?
Birch leaves are pointed and serrated. An aspen leaf has a wavy or bluntly toothed edge and a markedly long stalk.
Where does aspen grow, and when does it flower?
Aspen grows in mesic heath forest and groves and needs plenty of light. It is common at forest edges and in clearings.
Can you collect it for a herbarium?
Aspen is common, and a single leafy twig tip is enough.
Did you know?
The flattened leaf stalk twists easily, so the whole tree seems to tremble in the wind. Aspen spreads by root suckers, and one stump can raise a whole stand.
Where does aspen grow in Finland?
The map shows where the species has been recorded. Darker squares mean more observations.
Loading the map
Observations: GBIF ยท Map: CARTO, OpenStreetMap
Sources: fi.wikipedia.org
Identify plants with your phone
Linnea identifies a plant from a photo and tells you its name and its story. Every find takes its own numbered place in your herbarium, with the day and the town where you found it.
