Quaking Aspen

Celtis occidentalis

Native to MN

#10 Container

Mature height x width: 30-50’ x 10-30’

Light Preference: Full sun to part shade

Soil Preference: Sand to loam

Tolerates… variable soils, alkaline, acidic and wet

Does not tolerate… drought, deep shade, poor soil drainage

Ash replacement? û

Buckthorn replacement? ü

Shoreline buffer zone? û

Seasonal interest: Summer, fall and winter

Pollinator and wildlife value: birds, small mammals and deer

Other notes: Known for its white bark and trembling leaves, which shake in the wind. Native to North America, it thrives in cooler, moist environments, often in mountainous or forested areas. These trees can grow up to 80 feet tall and reproduce by sending up new shoots from their roots, forming large clonal groves. Aspen trees provide shelter and food for wildlife and are used for paper and furniture. They’re also famous for being part of some of the largest living organisms on Earth, like the Pando grove in Utah, which is thousands of years old and spans over 100 acres.

Photo credits: Becca McDonald, Sault College, Bugwood.org