Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Populus balsamifera x deltoides = P. x jackii 

Family

Salicaceae

Flowering season

March

English distribution

It is scattered throughout the country.

For a map see the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland –

Balm-of-Gilead

Habitat

It is a neophyte which was introduced into the UK in the

1770s and recorded in the wild in the 1870s.

It grows in wet places such as by rivers and ponds and

in damp woods.

There are only female trees.so spread is mainly

by suckering.

Description

Balm-of-Gilead is a deciduous spreading tree

growing up to 28m.

Only female flowers are produced. These are on

catkins which are serveral cm long. They comprise a

stalked cup-shaped light green perianth and an ovary

with a short style and a pair of white bifid 

stigmas.

The catkins elongate on fruiting and can be up to 18cm.

The fruits open to froduce plumes of white hairs 

similar to fluff from Populus.

The leaves are triangular-ovate and weekly serrated.

The tree shown here has variegated leaves and is

probably the cultivar Aurora. The upper surface is

more variegated than the lower.

The roots can travel a long way under walls and

readily produce erect stems that form permanent plants.

The trunk is grey brown.