White Poplar

Populus alba

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in disturbed areas, roadsides, forest edges, suburban woodlands. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

-30

Harmful

Not native to Louisiana. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Height: 50–75 feet
Spread: 4–6 feet
Light: Full sun
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to moist

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Do not plant. Listed invasive in Louisiana.

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Black Cherry
Prunus serotina
Sun: Full sun. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Pink or white.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous
Different: spread
Black Oak
Quercus velutina
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous
Different: spread
Bluejack Oak
Quercus incana
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Dry to somewhat dry. Flowers: Yellow or green.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous
Different: spread

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At a glance

Life cycle: Woody perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: March to May
Fruiting season: Spring

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Recorded in 13 Louisiana parishes.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

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Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

Forest edges and thickets

Borders of forests, clearings and shrubby thickets.

Forests and woodlands

Forest or woodland where the source does not say how moist or dry.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

151CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including LA

Genus host records with ranges including LA · Populus

Limenitis archippusViceroy
Limenitis arthemisRed-spotted Purple
Nymphalis antiopaMourning Cloak
Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
Acronicta insularisHenry's Marsh Moth, Cattail Caterpillar
Acronicta lepusculinaCottonwood Dagger

Show all 151

Acronicta longaLong-Winged Dagger, Darkish Dagger
Acronicta noctivagaNight-Wandering Dagger, Burglar Dagger
Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
Actias lunaLuna Moth
Aethalura intertextaFour-Barred Gray
Agonopterix argillaceaClay-Colored Agonopterix
Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
Americerura scitiscriptaBlack-Etched Prominent
Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
Amphipyra glabellaSmooth Amphipyra
Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
Anathix rallaDotted Sallow
Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
Archips purpuranaOmnivorous Leafroller Moth
Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
Automeris ioIo Moth
Besma quercivorariaOak Besma
Cabera variolariaPink-Striped Willow Spanworm Moth, Vestal Moth, The Vestal
Callosamia prometheaPromethea Silkmoth, Promethea Moth
Caloptilia stigmatellaPoplar Caloptilia
Catocala amatrixThe Sweetheart, Sweetheart Underwing
Catocala blandulaCharming Underwing
Catocala carissimaCarissima Underwing Moth, Southern Darling Underwing
Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
Cenopis reticulatanaReticulated Fruitworm Moth
Chaetaglaea sericeaSilky Sallow
Charadra deridensThe Laugher
Chlosyne nycteisSilvery Checkerspot
Choristoneura fumiferanaSpruce Budworm Moth
Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
Clostera albosigmaSigmoid Prominent
Clostera inclusaAngle-Lined Prominent, Poplar Tent Maker, Poplar Leaf-Tier
Coelodasys apicalisPlain Schizura
Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
Colocasia propinquilineaClosebanded Yellowhorn
Condylorrhiza vestigialisThe Alamo Moth
Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
Dichomeris ligulellaPalmerworm
Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
Ennomos subsignariaElm Spanworm Moth
Epimecis hortariaTulip-Tree Beauty
Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
Estigmene acreaSalt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth
Euchlaena deductariaForked Euchlaena
Eucirroedia pampinaScalloped Sallow
Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
Euzophera semifuneralisAmerican Plum Borer
Furcula cinereaGray Furcula
Glena cribratariaDotted Gray
Gluphisia septentrionisCommon Gluphisia
Gypsonoma haimbachianaCottonwood Twig Borer
Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
Iridopsis defectariaBrown-Shaded Gray, Willow Looper
Kocakina fidelisIntractable Quaker, Green Fruitworm, Fourlined Green Fruitworm
Lacinipolia renigeraBristly Ground Cat, Bristly Cutworm Moth, Kidney Spotted "Mamestra"
Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
Lycia ypsilonWoolly Gray
Macrurocampa marthesiaMottled Prominent
Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
Megalopyge crispataBlack-Waved Flannel Moth, Crinkled Flannel Moth
Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
Melanolophia signatariaSignate Melanolphia
Metanema inatomariaPale Metanema
Metarranthis duariaRuddy Metarranthis
Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
Nadata gibbosaWhite-Dotted Prominent
Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
Nycteola metaspilellaSienna-Dotted Nycteola, Forgotten Frigid Owlet
Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
Oedemasia leptinoidesBlack-Blotched Schizura
Oedemasia semirufescensRed-Washed Prominent
Olethreutes fasciatanaBanded Olethreutes
Orgyia definitaDefinite Tussock Moth
Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
Orthosia rubescensRuby Quaker
Pachysphinx modestaModest Sphinx, The Big Poplar Sphinx
Paleacrita vernataSpring Cankerworm Moth
Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
Paonias myopsSmall-Eyed Sphinx
Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
Papilio cresphontesEastern Giant Swallowtail
Paranthrene dolliiPoplar Borer
Paranthrene tabaniformisDusky Clearwing
Parasa chlorisSmaller Parasa, Green Slug Moth
Parasa indeterminaStinging Rose Caterpillar Moth, Rose Slug Caterpillar
Parastichtis suspectaThe Suspected
Phaeoura quernariaOak Beauty Moth
Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
Phobetron pitheciumHag Moth, Monkey Slug
Plagodis alcoolariaHollow-Spotted Plagodis
Pococera aplastellaAspen Webworm Moth
Pococera asperatellaMaple Webworm
Polygonia interrogationisQuestion Mark
Prionoxystus robiniaeCarpenterworm Moth, Black Locust Borer, Cottonwood Borer
Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
Protitame virginalisVirgin Moth
Protoboarmia porcelariaPorcelain Gray, Dashedlined Looper
Pseudothyatira cymatophoroidesTufted Thyatirid
Psilocorsis quercicellaOak Leaftier
Psilocorsis reflexellaDotted Leaftier Moth
Pyrrhia ciliscaAmerican Bordered Sallow, Noble Sun Moth
Raphia fraterThe Brother, Yellow-Marked Caterpillar
Rheumaptera prunivorataFerguson's Scallop Shell, Cherry Scallop Shell
Satyrium liparopsStriped Hairstreak
Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
Scoliopteryx libatrixThe Herald
Smerinthus jamaicensisTwin-Spotted Sphinx
Sphinx kalmiaeFawn Sphinx, Laurel Sphinx
Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
Spodoptera ornithogalliYellow-Striped Armyworm Moth, Cotton Cutworm
Sunira bicoloragoBicolored Sallow
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
Tolype velledaLarge Tolype, Large Lappet Moth, Vellada Lappet Moth
Xystopeplus rufagoRed-Winged Sallow
Zale minereaColorful Zale
Zanclognatha marcidilineaYellowish Fan-Foot
Anania extricalis
Bucculatrix staintonella
Diataga leptosceles
Dichomeris ventrellus
Framinghamia helvalis

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

9BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Populus

Alectoris chukarChukar
Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
Dendragapus obscurusDusky Grouse
Falcipennis canadensisSpruce Grouse
Lagopus lagopusWillow Ptarmigan
Lagopus mutaRock Ptarmigan
Pheucticus ludovicianusRose-breasted Grosbeak
Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
Zenaida asiaticaWhite-winged Dove

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Salicaceae
Hardiness: Zones 3a–9b
Soil pH: Acidic to alkaline
Flower color: Green or red
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth habit: Single stem
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Spring
Fruit ends: Spring

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “March to May” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Green or red” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Single stem” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Rapid” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 3a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “50–75 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS, Minnesota Wildflowers differ)
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Acidic to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “4–6 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Silver Leaf Poplar

Conservation status

Louisiana rank	SNA
Global rank	G5
LA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source