{"assessment":{"band":"Strong","factor_identity":{"basis":"approved shared identity","growth_habit_source":"USDA PLANTS","name_used":"Populus balsamifera"},"factor_scopes":{"bees":"Southeastern North America","birds":"North America","caterpillars":"Host genera of native Lepidoptera with established Kentucky range; association and range overlap, not confirmed local feeding.","specialists":"Eastern North America","structure":"USDA species growth habit where matched; otherwise sourced atlas growth habit"},"factors":{"applied_insect_credit":0,"baseline_score":67,"composite":0.75,"insect_support":{"credit":0,"groups":{"ants":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Ants","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"beetles":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Beetles","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"flies":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Flies","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"moths_butterflies":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Adult butterflies / moths","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"other_hymenoptera":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Other wasps","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"other_insects":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Other insects","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"}},"interpretation":"One provisional point per additional documented insect group, capped at five. Flower visits are a resource-use proxy, not confirmed feeding or pollination. Missing evidence is unknown. Study volume and repeated records earn no extra credit.","maximum_credit":5,"version":"insect-support-1"},"pct":{"bees":0.24379652605459057,"birds":0.9119106699751861,"caterpillars":0.9900744416873449,"specialists":0.4323821339950372,"structure":1},"rank_pct":0.721,"raw":{"bees":0,"birds":9,"caterpillars":235,"genus_used":null,"specialists":0,"structure":["Tree"]}},"fit_score":null,"native_basis":"native_inferred","rarity_adjustment":0,"rarity_policy":"Conservation status is displayed separately and never changes ecological scores, including when unranked.","reason":"Calculated with the shared rules using Kentucky host-range and shared ecological evidence.","reference":"NC native reference cohort, method 0.6.4; not a Kentucky percentile","score":67,"scoring_inputs":{"harm_penalty":0,"invasive":false,"invasive_rank":null,"native":true,"state_rank":""},"source_ids":["lep_ky","globi","bigbee","avian","usdahabit","robertson","antseed"],"status":"scored_provisional","version":"shared-0.6.5"},"condition_evidence":{"light":{"broad_range_note":{"review_status":"source_recorded","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","text":"Selected source categories span deep shade to full sun; broad tolerance is source-recorded, not independently verified."},"evidence_id":"fact:18b07ed9405d5c8cf6432e6a66435bfdc7093bbeb4ad44100fb0ac052e78cd25","levels":[0,1,2,3,4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[0,4],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_light_categories","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","status":"mapped_selected_fact"},"moisture":{"evidence_id":"fact:9c1496b2835ae5424e860ea6a69190d29381ca9fda7e7caca1d383e68ba10c5f","levels":[0,3,4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[0,4],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","status":"mapped_selected_fact"}},"evidence":{"fit_score":null,"growth_habit":["Tree"],"invasive_status":{"status":"unresolved"},"native_status":{"status":"native_inferred"},"occurrence":{"county_fips":["21043","21135","21151","21165","21195"],"meaning":"Recorded occurrence; not a county native-range assertion"},"quercus_score":null,"regional":{"county_fips":["21043","21135","21151","21165","21195"],"growth_habit":"tree","growth_habit_source":"tnky_atlas","invasive":null,"invasive_evidence":[],"invasive_rank":null,"native":true,"native_evidence":[{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Populus balsamifera","scope":"TN-KY","source":"tnky_atlas","url":"https://tennessee-kentucky.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/617"},{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Populus balsamifera","scope":"L48","source":"usda","text":"AK:N CAN:N L48:N","url":"https://plants.usda.gov/"}],"native_status":"native_inferred","source_ids":["tnky:617"],"source_name":"Populus balsamifera","source_refs":["KY-county-21043.json","KY-county-21135.json","KY-county-21151.json","KY-county-21165.json","KY-county-21195.json"],"source_url":"https://tennessee-kentucky.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/617","state_rank":null},"source_refs":["KY-county-21043.json","KY-county-21135.json","KY-county-21151.json","KY-county-21165.json","KY-county-21195.json"],"source_url":"https://tennessee-kentucky.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/617","state_rank":{"value":null}},"fit_inputs":{"light":[0,4],"moisture":[0,4],"ph":[4.5,7]},"fit_provenance":{"light":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","moisture":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","ph":"USDA PLANTS"},"fit_record":{"band":"Strong","condition_evidence":{"light":{"broad_range_note":{"review_status":"source_recorded","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","text":"Selected source categories span deep shade to full sun; broad tolerance is source-recorded, not independently verified."},"evidence_id":"fact:18b07ed9405d5c8cf6432e6a66435bfdc7093bbeb4ad44100fb0ac052e78cd25","levels":[0,1,2,3,4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[0,4],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_light_categories","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","status":"mapped_selected_fact"},"moisture":{"evidence_id":"fact:9c1496b2835ae5424e860ea6a69190d29381ca9fda7e7caca1d383e68ba10c5f","levels":[0,3,4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[0,4],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","status":"mapped_selected_fact"}},"county_fips":["21043","21135","21151","21165","21195","47057","47119","47139","47149","47177"],"fit_inputs":{"light":[0,4],"moisture":[0,4],"ph":[4.5,7]},"fit_note":"Shared sunlight, moisture and pH calculation; county geography is an additional layer. Missing source traits remain unknown.","fit_provenance":{"light":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","moisture":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","ph":"USDA PLANTS"},"garden_suitability":{"default_excluded":false,"flags":[],"review_status":"not_assessed"},"invasive_rank":false,"native_eligible":true,"quercus_score":67,"state":"KY"},"garden_suitability":{"default_excluded":false,"flags":[],"review_status":"not_assessed"},"growing_observations":{"botanical_review_primary_flower_color":{"matched_name":"Populus balsamifera","review_decision":{"reason":"Single consistent approved flower-color category; explicit normalization of existing observation, not a fresh anatomical verification.","sources":["populus-balsamifera--usda"],"status":"reviewed","value":"yellow"},"review_note":"Single consistent approved flower-color category; explicit normalization of existing observation, not a fresh anatomical verification.","review_sources":[{"approved_for_correction":true,"evidence_kind":"existing_structured_source_observation","excerpt":"{\"flower_color\": \"Yellow\"}","retrieved":"2026-09-24","sha256":null,"source_record_id":67389,"title":"USDA PLANTS","url":"https://plants.usda.gov/"}],"review_status":"reviewed","source_label":"USDA PLANTS","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/","values":{"primary_flower_color":"yellow"}},"eol_usda":{"archive_doi":"10.5281/zenodo.22129810","matched_name":"Populus balsamifera","retrieved":"2026-09-30","scope":"Nationwide approximate species characteristics; tolerance categories do not specify sun hours or moisture requirements","scoring_allowed":false,"source_label":"USDA PLANTS via EOL TraitBank","source_sha256":"04bb6a5292502ddc757bb909f4151de4b9aaea042223dfb486ffe2a94a2564db","source_url":"http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=POBA2","trait_evidence":[{"citation":"The PLANTS Database, United States Department of Agriculture, National Resources Conservation Service. http://plants.usda.gov/","eol_page":"https://eol.org/pages/47108519","field":"drought_tolerance","method":"Compares the relative tolerance of the plant to drought conditions to other species with the same growth habit from the same geographical region. Drought tolerance is defined here in the following fashion: Imagine that in an acre of land there are low areas that have heavy soil and tend to accumulate more soil moisture, and higher areas that have coarse textured soil and tend to accumulate less soil moisture. Some plant species are most frequently found growing in the higher areas with the coarse soil texture. These plant species are considered to be more drought tolerant than the species that are frequently found in the low areas with fine textured soil.","source_url":"http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=POBA2","trait_id":"R133-PK288756578","trait_label":"drought tolerance","value":"low tolerance"},{"citation":"The PLANTS Database, United States Department of Agriculture, National Resources Conservation Service. http://plants.usda.gov/","eol_page":"https://eol.org/pages/47108519","field":"moisture_use","method":"","source_url":"http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=POBA2","trait_id":"R133-PK288768106","trait_label":"moisture use","value":"high"},{"citation":"The PLANTS Database, United States Department of Agriculture, National Resources Conservation Service. http://plants.usda.gov/","eol_page":"https://eol.org/pages/47108519","field":"shade_tolerance","method":"","source_url":"http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=POBA2","trait_id":"R133-PK288786386","trait_label":"shade tolerance","value":"low tolerance"}],"values":{"drought_tolerance":"low tolerance","moisture_use":"high","shade_tolerance":"low tolerance"}},"floraquest_carolinas_georgia":{"matched_name":"Populus balsamifera","retrieved":"2026-10-04T13:31:16.252589+00:00","scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"scope_note":"Original regional ecological and identification evidence; no location-specific gardening adjustments.","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_name":"Populus balsamifera","source_record_id":3560,"source_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","trait_evidence":[{"field":"habitat_description","source_column":"HabitatText","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3560,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Floodplains, disturbed areas. Occurring further north in a variety of habitats such as depressions, drainages, river bottoms, spruce-aspen forests, or on well-drained sites atop glacial deposits."},{"field":"geographic_range_description","source_column":"Description","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3560,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Newfoundland and Labrador (Labrador) and Alaska south to Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Colorado, Idaho, and Oregon; scattered farther south, perhaps primarily by introduction. Ranges south to s. Pennsylvania (Rhoads & Block 2007), e. and c. Kentucky (Clark et al. 2005), Virginia (Kartesz 2023), and w. North Carolina (Yancey County, D. Leslie, pers.comm. 2025). Also reported for n. Georgia (Jones & Coile 1988) and provisionally for South Carolina (Kartesz 1999), but apparently based on a specimen from cultivation. Many of the attributions of this species to states in our area are based on misidentifications; others southward (Kentucky) appear to represent atypical hybrids or forms and are cited within somewhat isolated and often disturbed habitats (e.g., [ P. candicans ] R. Clark 22338; S. Ward, pers. obs.; 2025)."},{"field":"phenology_source_text","source_column":"Phenology","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3560,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Mar-Jun; May-Jul."},{"field":"taxonomic_synonymy","source_column":"Synonymy","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3560,"source_table":"Organism","value":"[= C, Can, FNA7, G, GrPl, Mi, NY, Pa, POWO, Tat, WV; = n/a — RAB; = Populus balsamifera L. ssp. balsamifera — K1, K4, NE, NS; > Populus balsamifera L. var. balsamifera — F; > Populus balsamifera L. var. michauxii (Dode) Henry; > Populus balsamifera L. var. subcordata Hyl. — F]"},{"field":"heliophily_index","source_column":"HIndex","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3560,"source_table":"Organism","value":5},{"field":"regional_wetland_indicators","source_column":"WetlandStatus1..5","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3560,"source_table":"Organism","value":[{"source_column":"WetlandStatus1","value":"FACW"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus2","value":"FACW"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus3","value":"FACW"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus4","value":"FACW"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus5","value":"FACW"}]},{"field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_column":"Attr2","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3560,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":["Dry","Moist","Wet"]},{"field":"habitat_light_categories","source_column":"Attr3","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3560,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":["Partial shade","Full shade","Full sun"]},{"field":"graphic_key_source_attributes","source_column":"Attr0..25","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3560,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":{"Attr0":"gr14","Attr1":"nc_mt,","Attr11":"pal,pin","Attr12":"unl","Attr13":"to","Attr14":"Bl14,Bl5,Bl9","Attr15":"lh","Attr16":"n","Attr17":"nd","Attr18":"nd","Attr19":"gr,nd,ye","Attr2":"Dry,Moist,Wet","Attr20":"n","Attr21":"DSS","Attr3":"Part,Shade,Sun","Attr3a":"y,n","Attr4":" 2-7","Attr5":"t","Attr6":"n","Attr7":"n","Attr8":"alt","Attr9":"sim"}}],"values":{"geographic_range_description":"Newfoundland and Labrador (Labrador) and Alaska south to Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Colorado, Idaho, and Oregon; scattered farther south, perhaps primarily by introduction. Ranges south to s. Pennsylvania (Rhoads & Block 2007), e. and c. Kentucky (Clark et al. 2005), Virginia (Kartesz 2023), and w. North Carolina (Yancey County, D. Leslie, pers.comm. 2025). Also reported for n. Georgia (Jones & Coile 1988) and provisionally for South Carolina (Kartesz 1999), but apparently based on a specimen from cultivation. Many of the attributions of this species to states in our area are based on misidentifications; others southward (Kentucky) appear to represent atypical hybrids or forms and are cited within somewhat isolated and often disturbed habitats (e.g., [ P. candicans ] R. Clark 22338; S. Ward, pers. obs.; 2025).","graphic_key_source_attributes":{"Attr0":"gr14","Attr1":"nc_mt,","Attr11":"pal,pin","Attr12":"unl","Attr13":"to","Attr14":"Bl14,Bl5,Bl9","Attr15":"lh","Attr16":"n","Attr17":"nd","Attr18":"nd","Attr19":"gr,nd,ye","Attr2":"Dry,Moist,Wet","Attr20":"n","Attr21":"DSS","Attr3":"Part,Shade,Sun","Attr3a":"y,n","Attr4":" 2-7","Attr5":"t","Attr6":"n","Attr7":"n","Attr8":"alt","Attr9":"sim"},"habitat_description":"Floodplains, disturbed areas. Occurring further north in a variety of habitats such as depressions, drainages, river bottoms, spruce-aspen forests, or on well-drained sites atop glacial deposits.","habitat_light_categories":["Partial shade","Full shade","Full sun"],"habitat_moisture_categories":["Dry","Moist","Wet"],"heliophily_index":5,"phenology_source_text":"Mar-Jun; May-Jul.","regional_wetland_indicators":[{"source_column":"WetlandStatus1","value":"FACW"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus2","value":"FACW"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus3","value":"FACW"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus4","value":"FACW"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus5","value":"FACW"}],"taxonomic_synonymy":"[= C, Can, FNA7, G, GrPl, Mi, NY, Pa, POWO, Tat, WV; = n/a — RAB; = Populus balsamifera L. ssp. balsamifera — K1, K4, NE, NS; > Populus balsamifera L. var. balsamifera — F; > Populus balsamifera L. var. michauxii (Dode) Henry; > Populus balsamifera L. var. subcordata Hyl. — F]"}},"minnesota_wildflowers":{"matched_name":"Populus balsamifera","retrieved":"2026-10-04T02:38:43.356363+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Source-reported species characteristics; not a location-specific estimate.","source_label":"Minnesota Wildflowers","source_sha256":"12068e8632138136f000eecfe99cefd3ac395f7035781b380f874f76a33d1045","source_url":"https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/tree/balsam-poplar","trait_evidence":[{"expected_source_name":"Populus balsamifera","field":"height_description","original_field":"height","record_id":"trait:199e6778b10f679b0dc78ef348244da2482ac3ab8b9819fb2410c16f83e1d648","retrieved_at":"2026-10-04T02:38:43.356363+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"minnesota","source_name":"Populus balsamifera","source_sha256":"12068e8632138136f000eecfe99cefd3ac395f7035781b380f874f76a33d1045","source_url":"https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/tree/balsam-poplar","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:3f5101ec-efc2-5946-848c-72afa61c64f6","value":{"max":80,"min":40,"unit":"feet"}},{"expected_source_name":"Populus balsamifera","field":"life_cycle","original_field":"life_cycle","record_id":"trait:a36e924ac9b94adb8c96732d76dc47d175593029b04ad85032ae7e1ce6f5f3aa","retrieved_at":"2026-10-04T02:38:43.356363+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"minnesota","source_name":"Populus balsamifera","source_sha256":"12068e8632138136f000eecfe99cefd3ac395f7035781b380f874f76a33d1045","source_url":"https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/tree/balsam-poplar","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:3f5101ec-efc2-5946-848c-72afa61c64f6","value":["perennial woody"]}],"values":{"height_description":"40–80 feet","life_cycle":["perennial woody"]}},"usda":{"matched_name":"Populus balsamifera","retrieved":"2026-09-24","scope":"Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary","source_label":"USDA PLANTS","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/","usda_id":67389,"values":{"bloom_season":"Late Spring","flower_color":"Yellow","foliage_color":"Yellow-Green","fruit_season_begin":"Spring","fruit_season_end":"Summer","growth_architecture":"Single Stem","growth_rate":"Rapid","height_ft":80,"leaf_retention":"No"}}},"light_range":["deep shade","full sun"],"light_source":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","native_synthesis":{"claims":[{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Populus balsamifera","scope":"TN-KY","source":"tnky_atlas","url":"https://tennessee-kentucky.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/617"},{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Populus balsamifera","scope":"L48","source":"usda","text":"AK:N CAN:N L48:N","url":"https://plants.usda.gov/"}],"county_native_range":"unresolved","explanation":"Source scopes are preserved. State occurrence alone does not establish nativity; combined regional evidence is labeled estimated.","label":"Native to Kentucky (estimated from combined sources)","rule":"southeast-native-synthesis-1","status":"native_inferred"},"source_name":"Populus balsamifera","taxon_id":"taxon:3f5101ec-efc2-5946-848c-72afa61c64f6","revision":"publish:5809c037-0e9a-430a-8008-5ab6f69800c0","photos":[{"id":"populus-balsamifera-3915942","src":"/api/photos/image/651d0d66ac147e7683de3f0d12460767f7bc95e6cd857bc4acf631b06a5c95d8.jpg","view":"leaf","alt":"Populus balsamifera — leaf photograph","width":960,"height":1418,"artist":"Lynden Gerdes @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. 1995. Northeast wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. Northeast National Technical Center, Chester.","license":"Public domain","license_url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Public_domain","source_url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Populus_balsamifera.jpg","changes":"Wikimedia thumbnail; no crop or retouching"}]}