Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides · Salicaceae (Willow family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Broadly ovate to nearly orbicular (round), abruptly pointed at the tip
Margin
Finely crenate-serrate (with small, rounded or blunt teeth)
Arrangement
Alternate on the twig, attached by a distinctly flattened petiole
Venation
Pinnate to palmate-pinnate transition, with a prominent light-colored midrib and net-like reticulate secondary veins
Key Features
Flattened leaf petioles causing the leaves to tremble in the wind, finely toothed leaf margins, nearly round leaf shape, and smooth white-to-greenish bark on the trunk
Description
Quaking aspens are medium-sized deciduous trees famous for their smooth, pale whitish-green bark and leaves that tremble even in a gentle breeze due to their flattened petioles. They produce catkins in early spring before the leaves emerge, followed by small capsules containing cottony seeds. In autumn, they transform landscapes with breathtaking displays of vibrant yellow foliage.
Habitat
Thrives in moist to well-drained soils of boreal forests, mountain slopes, and disturbed areas; highly intolerant of shade, preferring full sun
Native Range
Widely distributed across North America, extending from Alaska across Canada down to northern Mexico, with a particularly strong presence in the Great Lakes region and Northern Minnesota
Notes
Northern Minnesota