Trembling aspen, American aspen

This tree usually grows 12 to 20 m tall, but sometimes as much as 35 m. Its smooth bark has a waxy appearance. It is pale green or almost white, covered in a whitish powder that stains the hands. With age, the bark becomes grey or brown, rough and furrowed. Its superficial, widely spreading roots send up numerous suckers. It has alternate, single, almost round leaves that end in an abrupt point. They have fine, irregular and rounded teeth and a long, flat leaf stalk. The upper surface of the leaf is shiny dark green and the underside is yellowish-green. The resinous buds are conical, pointed and reddish-brown, with their tips turning inward. The flowers grow in downy catkins. The fruit are narrowly conical, smooth capsules, splitting into two parts when mature. The catkins are arranged on a thin, flexible stem.