Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Account for Lombardy Poplar - Populus nigra   L.
Members of Salicaceae:
Members of Populus with account distribution info or public map:
Google Images
Section 6 » Order Salicales » Family Salicaceae
AuthorL.
DistributionMostly in the Mountains; also Robeson County. A Gaston County specimen proves to be Betula pendula.

Native of Eurasia; in N.A. mostly southeastern Canada and northeastern U.S., also scattered in most of the lower 48 states.
AbundanceVery rare as an escape, though often seen planted along field margins and yard borders to act as windbreaks. Apparently our plants are all male and reproduce by root suckers.
HabitatShore of Lake Junaluska (Haywood Co.), along railroad (Yancey Co.), fields (Macon Co.), roadside (Robeson Co.).
PhenologyNo data.
IdentificationLombardy Poplar is unique in the genus in its narrowly cylindrical growth form, looking like an Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) at a distance; and triangular leaves that are wider than long and which have a graceful drip-tip.
Taxonomic CommentsOur plants are the cultivar italica, known as Lombardy Poplar.

Other Common Name(s)
State RankSE
Global RankG5
State Status
US Status
USACE-agcp
USACE-emp
County Map - click on a county to view source of record.
Select a source
AllHerbaria
Select an occurrence type
AllCollection_non_natural