Return to Native Trees of the Southern Rocky Mountains

Although this tree is similar in many ways to the Plains cottonwood which thrivess in fairly hot, if not entirely dry, conditions, the Balsam poplar prefers cool, wet locations. Like the Plains cottonwood it requires full sun for the seedlings to grow. It is common in the Canadian forests right up to the tundra, and in the north woods such as those of Minnesota. Its appearance in Colorado represents its most southerly extent. It is widely scattered through the mountains of Wyoming and northern and central Colorado, from 6000 feet to treeline, along streams and margins of boggy places. It seldom grows over 50 feet high; usually it reaches 1 to 3 feet in diameter trunk, and has an open narrow crown.

The leaves are similar to Narrowleaf cottonwood leaves, except large and broader in proportion. The leafstalks may be notched on top. Good examples are planted as ornamental trees in Twin Lakes and in front of the library in Fairplay Colorado.

The scientific name is Populus balsamifera. This is another circumpolar tree of the northern hemisphere, like the Aspen and Boxelder, which are found in the cool northern forests right around the globe.

Balsam poplar leaves are 3 to 7 inches long; 1 to 4 inches broad, and fine-toothed on the edges. Note: leaf stalks are round (not flattened like Plains or Rio Grande cottonwoods). Leaves are dark shiny green but quite pale beneath.

Stems and twigs are dark brown or red-brown.

End buds large (5/8 to 1 inch long); gummy or waxy; very spicy fragrance, camphor-like, in spring if squeezed, this perhaps being the source of one old common name "Balm-of-Gilead." ("Is there no balm in Gilead?" - Jeremiah 8:22), though this tree grows nowhere near Palestine.

The bark is gray-green or brown and smooth on younger trees; dark or gray and furrowed with broad ridges in older trees.