Trembling aspen

This tree usually grows about 25 m tall, but sometimes as much as 35 m. Its smooth bark is pale green or almost white. It has a waxy appearance when the tree is young. With age, the bark becomes grey or brown, rough and furrowed. Its superficial, spreading roots can produce suckers.

It has alternate, single, almost round leaves that end in an abrupt point. They have fine, irregular and rounded teeth. Their leaf stalk, or petiole, is long and flat, causing the leaves to flutter in the slightest breeze—hence the name “trembling” aspen.

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.