Landscaping with aspen trees has become a new trend because of how gorgeous these trees can be. To improve your home’s curb appeal, we are breaking down the most common varieties of aspen trees you can use and what plants to grow with them.
Keep reading to find out more.
Contents
A List of Best Landscaping Aspen Trees
1. Quaking Aspen
The Populus tremuloides tree belongs to the Willow family and gets its name from how its leaves shake in response to even the slightest breeze. Other names are descriptive, such as “golden aspen” for its fall color, “white aspen” for its bark, or “golden aspen” for its preferred environment (mountain aspen).
It can be recognized by its uniformly smooth, light-colored bark sporadically punctured by darker knots and horizontal scars. Its flattened leafstalks, which make the leaves “quake” when the wind blows, are an even better distinguishing characteristic.
The leaves are three inches broad, rounded to slightly triangular, and coarsely serrated. Catkin is the flower or the seed head. The optimum time to plant quaking Aspen is spring after the frost date has passed.
– Decoration Ideas
To create beautiful landscaping, plants make for great additions under trees, because this is a perfect way to decorate your landscape, but simply placing a great plant to be close to your quaking aspens is sedum.
It is easy to maintain and usually doesn’t require much. Additionally, it does not typically compete with your Aspens because of its root system.
– Growth Requirements
Due to its propensity to spread, the quaking Aspen, a tree synonymous with the Rocky Mountain states, requires a lot of upkeep unless you want a big stand of it (over time). A frame (colony) like this would be appropriate for a remote region of your land.
However, to nurture quaking Aspen as a shade tree, you must continuously pull off any new plants that emerge from the root system to prevent undesirable trees’ growth and safeguard foundations and septic systems. Although it isn’t strictly invasive, it is referred to be a colonizer because it produces numerous genetically identical trees nearby.
For optimum results, grow a quaking aspen tree in full sun; However, note that this tree can tolerate little shade. Drainage should be adequate for quaking Aspen. It’s sufficient to use an ordinary garden loam. Keep the soil uniformly moist for maximum resulKorean Aspen
Native to North America, Korean aspens are quite deciduous trees. These quickly spreading trees generate seeds that resemble cotton and are easily blown over great distances by the wind. This organic dispersal method helps Korean aspens adapt to various situations and provides shade and protection where trees are needed.
– Features
Populus Davidiana is the scientific name for the Korean aspen trees. They have a trunk that is about 23 inches in diameter and stand at the height of almost a hundred feet tall. The majority of the trunk of these trees’ bark ranges from greenish gray to white and is smooth; only the base is rough.
While their branches typically have considerably darker colors, such as red or brown, than their barks, they are generally light in color. These aspens are easily recognized by their distinctive triangular, sharply-edged, serrated leaves, which is what signifies them.
– Companion Plants
Korean Aspens make excellent landscaping trees because of their beautiful white bark and autumn-themed yellow leaves. They can look beautiful independently, but you can always plant something next to them to complete the look.
Another wonderful herb to grow in your yard or next to your aspen trees is thyme. As a cover crop, thyme typically grows closer to the ground because of its thin roots, which cling to the soil and conserve it without competing with larger plants like your Aspen.
Thyme plants often don’t need a lot of nutrients or other substances. Therefore, they also won’t compete with Aspen trees for any nutrients. Thyme plants make splendid companion plants because they are fragrant and beautiful in your yard and kitchen.
3. Eurasian Aspen
One of the most spotted species in this genus is Populus tremula, sometimes called the European Aspen. In terms of geographic range, these trees are found worldwide, from the Arctic to northern Africa and from Western Europe to Japan.
– Features
The European Aspen has rounded, fluttering leaves with curving borders, just like the trembling aspen trees. In the spring, its foliage looks coppery brown tones; in the fall, it changes to green or occasionally yellow.
Old and dead tree roots frequently produce new shoots and groves, which practice fast root sucking in these aspen trees. They serve as refuges for birds like the woodpecker and food for wild creatures, including elk, deer, moose, bears, and beavers.
– Companion Plants
Another excellent choice for your list of aspen tree companion plantings is cut flowers. “Cut flowers” refers to the typical group of flowers grown for arrangements, including bachelor’s buttons, zinnias, and cosmos.
These are all splendid choices because they typically do not need a lot of water and do not have extremely robust root systems that could compete with your Aspen.
Additionally, although they don’t mind, cut flowers don’t typically need a lot of nutrients or sunlight, so that they won’t be in direct competition with your Aspen in those areas.
Cut flowers can also be collected, cut, and utilized in arrangements or other domestic projects, making them versatile and adaptable, like herbs. If you’re working in or close to a garden, another advantage is that they can draw beneficial insects!
The fact that cut flowers come in various species, forms, sizes, hues, fragrances, and other characteristics makes them ideal for people with particular colors, sizes, and user needs.
4. Japanese Aspen
Japanese Aspen, also known as Populus siebodlii, is a deciduous tree growing fairly quickly. All around Japan, these trees can be frequently found growing on mountains.
– Features
Japanese aspen trees thrive in thick, wet soil and can reach heights of about 65 feet. These trees prefer to flourish in well-drained soil. In open upland areas, Japanese Aspen does not thrive. The uses of Japanese aspen trees are numerous.
The extract from the shoots is employed as a hormone for roots for all kinds of cuttings. Japanese aspen wood has a soft, fuzzy texture, is flavorless and odorless, and has low flammability. The wood is abrasion-resistant.
– Companion Plant
Baby’s breath is a plant that may not be frequently considered, but it can be quite helpful in aspen tree companion planting.
Baby’s breath plants are unusual and enjoyable to plant with this beautiful trees because they produce a wonderful puff of white color through their little and delicate blossoms. In addition, without competing for resources like nutrients or water, their roots can hold in and preserve the soil.
Baby’s breath may require full sun, but it can also thrive in partial shade, so you may need to experiment with planting them before committing entirely, you can also plant it around the tree.
5. Chinese Aspen
Populus adenopoda, sometimes known as the Chinese Aspen, is a popular species. Chinese Aspen is the term given to these aspen trees because they are primarily Chinese in origin and are most common there.
– Features
Despite occurring primarily on mountain slopes that are raised at very high altitudes, and this is the fact that the Populus adenopoda aspen trees are known for being able to attain total heights of almost a hundred feet.
The most common uses of Chinese aspens are for their wood which is often used in furniture production. These trees’ timber is also used to make carts, wood pulp, and farm equipment.
– Companion Plant
Another unusual and uncommon plant that can be planted alongside aspens is artemisia or the mugwort. The majority of sites claim that they are drought-tolerant and won’t compete with other plants for too many nutrients or water.
In addition, because of their distinctive hue, many ardent gardeners adore planting artemisia alongside their aspens. The majority of individuals claim that artemisia plants are excellent companion plants since their silvery hue draws attention to and enhances the exquisite undertones of Aspen leaves.
Overall, artemisia might be a terrific choice for you, especially if you’re searching for a traditional combination that has been shown to enhance the Aspen tree’s inherent beauty.
6. Bigtooth Aspen
Compared to other aspen species, the bigtooth Aspen, or Populus grandidentata, is a deciduous tree with a restricted growth and distribution area.
Most of these trees can be found in southeastern Canada, northeastern and north-central America. Other names for Populus grandidentata include large-tooth Aspen, American Aspen, and white poplar.
– Features
The reason why this tree is called the big tooth is due to the fact that the leaves have greater teeth than other aspen species’ trees, and they are the distinguished feature of the tree
The Latin genus Populus, which translates to “poplar” in English, refers to the species. In contrast, grandidentata refers to the irregular and rough teeth on the leaves, where Grandis is Latin for “big” and dentata for “toothed.” Their smooth, thin, olive-green barks are present when these trees are young.
– Characteristics
After 30 to 40 years, the bark has fully developed and is gray, thick, and rough with knots and grooves. These trees produce soft, straight-textured, fine-grained, and light-shaded wood. It is mostly used to make wood pulp, although it is also infrequently used to create structural panels and particle boards.
Pallets, log cabins, crates, chopsticks, match splints, hockey sticks, cricket bats, and ladders are other uncommon uses. In addition, the bark is frequently pelletized for use as fuel and to supply more livestock. According to their habitat, these trees thrive on flooded plains and sandy soils.
Such conditions allow this type of Aspen to reach its maximum height and width. The big tooth aspen trees primarily flourish where other aspen and poplar species are also present. The nearby fauna eats their leaves, twigs, and shrubs.
– Companion Plant
Sage-type salvia is one more wonderful choice to grow close to your aspens. They are generally low maintenance and have a reputation for not out-competing or suffocating other plants, even your Aspen tree.
Salvia is also available in various variations, each of which features a wide range of colors and sizes, giving home gardeners limitless customization options.
Another advantage of salvia is that it is slightly taller than the other plants on this list, giving it a special and unusual beauty in companion planting.
Big-box gardening stores and local nurseries frequently stock a wide variety of salvia seedlings during the spring and summer, in addition to a wide variety of salvia seeds, making them available for usage in any format or size.
Conclusion
These six varieties of aspen trees will surely amp up any landscape you choose to upgrade. Just keep in mind:
- Quaking aspen trees require a lot of natural light. So, planting them in full sun will be a requirement. If you have more shade in your home, reconsider planting this tree.
- Korean aspen trees can make up a landscape and improve its appeal because of the gold, almost yellow-colored leaves it produces. The trees look magical once mature and can significantly improve aesthetics.
- Bigtooth aspen trees can reach long lengths and wide widths so before planting it, make sure you have ample space to accommodate it.
There you have it. After learning all about these trees, which one are you going to grow?
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