White Poplar

Populus alba

A beautiful, hardy, deciduous tree growing to 20m in height. The leaves are a dark, grey/green on the top side and look white on the under side due to the white woolly hairs. Mainly 5 lobed and irregularly toothed. Male and female flowers are found on separate trees (male catkins red and female yellow/green). The female fruit once fertilized develops into fluffy cotton seeds, which mature and fall in late summer. The bark is pale grey with lines of diamond shaped pores.

Family: Salicaceae

Which probiotic is it in?:

Habit and cultivation: Native to central and southern Europe, Morocco and the Iberian Peninsula and naturalised in the UK often close to water.

Actions (known for): Anti-rheumatic, antiseptic, astringent, cholagogue, diuretic, anodyne and anti-inflammatory.

History of White Poplar

Often planted around public meeting places during Roman times. Planted as wind breaks along the coast and tolerant of ocean winds. The tree was consecrated to Hercules after he destroyed Cacus.