Lombardy Poplar

The Lombardy Poplar (Populus nigra Plantierensis group) is commonly planted along roads and drives as here at at Washington. They are a very distinctive tree with a very recognisible shape. It is a form of the true Lombardy Poplar (P. nigra italica) which grows better in our climate as the Italian cultivar likes hot dry conditions. Both male and female clones are grown.

Originating in Italy and developed in France, it is a cultivar of the Black Poplar which is a fairly rare tree in the British Isles. Black Poplars are dioecious meaning that one tree will bear male flowers only while another will have female flowers only. There are Black Poplars in Sussex and a good number around Taunton in Somerset.