Populus Nigra ‘Italica’ (Lombardy Poplar)

First discovered in Lombardy in Northern Italy, this beautiful slender columnar tree can reach 20m in height and is often seen used as a windbreak or as an avenue. The leaves are roughly triangular in shape, taking on yellow colouration in the autumn.

It is good on windy sites, but not coastal positions and on moist to damp soils, so is not good in paved areas. During the 19th century huge numbers of logs were imported from Canada for the manufacture of safety matches.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.