Poplar (Poplus nigra cultivar italica)

Poplar is the common name of several species of trees in a genus of the willow family. The one that Jeremiah saw is called the Lombardy poplar. Lombardy poplars are short-lived, fast-growing trees that were introduced to America during Colonial times. The Lombardy poplar, with close, erect branches, and spire-like shape is most often planted as a windbreak. The leaves are a shape called “deltoid,” meaning that they are shaped like the Greek letter delta. Lombardy poplars grow to 21 to 24 m. (70 to 80 ft).  All poplars, including the Cottonwood are related to the Aspens. There is no significant commercial use for Lombardy poplars.