Guides · Tree database · Pennsylvania trees
White poplar identification: leaves, bark, fruit and twigs
White poplar, Populus alba, is an introduced tree in Pennsylvania. How to recognize it by its leaves, bark, fruit and twigs, and how to tell it from look-alikes.
Alternate, simple leaves with lobes. Leaves 2 to 4 inches long, coarsely toothed and sometimes lobed like a maple, shiny green on top and white and woolly underneath. Bark: Smooth milky greenish white for years, later with dark splits and ridges. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
How to identify white poplar
| Leaf type | Alternate, simple leaves with lobes |
|---|---|
| Leaves | Leaves 2 to 4 inches long, coarsely toothed and sometimes lobed like a maple, shiny green on top and white and woolly underneath. |
| Bark | Smooth milky greenish white for years, later with dark splits and ridges. |
| Fruit | Cottony seeds in capsules, late spring to early summer. |
| Twigs | Gray to reddish brown twigs, sometimes with gray fuzz. |
| Size and shape | Single straight trunk with a thin crown; root sprouts readily and forms thickets. |
From the Virginia Tech Dendrology fact sheet, in our own words.
Is white poplar native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists white poplar as introduced: it is not native to Pennsylvania.
See all 140 trees, with a 4-question identifier, in our Pennsylvania tree identification guide.
Trees that look like white poplar
| Tree | Its leaves |
|---|---|
| Bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata | Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges. Round to oval leaves 3 to 4 inches long with big, blunt teeth on a flattened leaf stem. |
| Quaking aspen Populus tremuloides | Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges. Small heart-shaped to nearly round leaves 1 to 3 inches long with fine teeth on a flattened stem, so they shake in the slightest breeze. |
Compare the leaves first, then the bark, fruit and twigs on each tree’s page.
Other poplars, aspens and cottonwoods in Pennsylvania
Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), Swamp cottonwood (Populus heterophylla), Balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera), Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra).
Questions
How do you identify white poplar?
Look for alternate, simple leaves with lobes. Leaves 2 to 4 inches long, coarsely toothed and sometimes lobed like a maple, shiny green on top and white and woolly underneath. Bark: Smooth milky greenish white for years, later with dark splits and ridges.
Is white poplar native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists white poplar as introduced: it is not native to Pennsylvania.
What shape is white poplar?
Single straight trunk with a thin crown; root sprouts readily and forms thickets.
How can you tell white poplar in winter?
Check the twigs and bark. Twigs: Gray to reddish brown twigs, sometimes with gray fuzz. Bark: Smooth milky greenish white for years, later with dark splits and ridges.
What tree looks like white poplar?
Bigtooth aspen, Quaking aspen. Compare the leaves first.
Sources: Virginia Tech Dendrology (Populus alba fact sheet); Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, PA Vascular Plant List (native or introduced status). Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
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