Managing Pests in Gardens: Trees and Shrubs: Poplar, Cottonwood, and Aspen

Pests in Gardens and Landscapes

Quaking aspen
© 1995 Br. Alfred Brousseau,
Saint Mary's College of California

Poplar,
cottonwood, and aspen—Populus spp.*
Family Salicaceae (Willow family)

Plant Identification

Populus spp. are deciduous trees growing from 40 to 60 feet tall.

*Some species of Populus are invasive weeds. Other types of plants may be better choices when planting.

Optimum conditions for growth

Trees do best in full sun with regular deep irrigation. They grow rapidly and are best for low maintenance areas.

Populus alba

Pests and disorders of *Populus* spp.
Invertebrates Aphids Chaitophorus spp. Cloudywinged cottonwood Periphyllus spp. Armored scales Oystershell scale San Jose scale Carpenterworm Clearwing moth borers American hornet moth Western poplar clearwing Flatheaded borers Bronze birch borer Bronze poplar borer Foliage-feeding caterpillars Fall webworm Fruittree leafroller Redhumped caterpillar Satin moth caterpillar Spiny elm caterpillar Tent caterpillar Tussock moths Western tiger swallowtail Foliage miners Poplar shield bearer Gall and blister mites Cottonwood gall mite Gall aphids Poplar petiolegall aphid Glassy-winged sharpshooter Leaf beetles and flea beetles Mealybugs Poplar and willow borer Roundheaded borers Sawflies	Invertebrates (cont.) Soft scales Black scale Brown soft scale Cottony maple scale European fruit lecanium Treehoppers Buffalo treehopper True bugs Lace bugs Lygus bugs Diseases Armillaria root rot Bacterial blight Canker diseases Cytospora canker Hypoxylon canker Dematophora root rot Leaf spot diseases Cercospora Leaf & shoot blight Marssonina spp. Mycosphaerella populorum Venturia sp. Powdery mildew Rusts Scab Septoria leaf spot Taphrina leaf curl or blister Wetwood Wood decay Environmental disorders Leaf burn or scorch Lightning Mineral deficiencies Nutrient and mineral excesses Poor water management Sunburn Parasitic plants Broadleaf mistletoe Weeds Vertebrates

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How to Manage Pests

Pests in Gardens and Landscapes

Poplar, cottonwood, and aspen—Populus spp.* Family Salicaceae (Willow family)

Plant Identification

Optimum conditions for growth

Invertebrates

Invertebrates (cont.)

Diseases

Environmental disorders

Parasitic plants

Weeds

Vertebrates

Poplar,
cottonwood, and aspen—Populus spp.*
Family Salicaceae (Willow family)