Black poplar
Populus nigra
Poibleog dhubh
Possibly native (D) (3-4)

The black poplar may be a native Irish tree, although a rare one. It has been found especially in the midlands, predominantly in hedgerows in wet farmland near deep water-filled ditches, particularly along the River Shannon. It is a tall tree growing up to thirty-five metres with rough fissured dark grey bark. Its twigs are a shiny orange-brown, smooth and more or less hairless. The leaves are triangular oval, five to ten centimetres long with toothed edges, bright glossy green on top and paler beneath. The leaf-stalks are flattened from side to side, like those of the aspen but less markedly so. Male and female flowers (in catkins) occur on separate trees. The male catkins have distinctive crimson anthers and the female catkins have green stigmas. The catkins open three to five centimetres long and gradually elongate as they ripen.

The most familiar and commonly planted variety in Ireland is the Lombardy poplar, P. nigra var. italica. It is tall, upright and narrow. Lombardy poplars are often planted in long avenues, a use for which they are particularly badly suited as they are fragile and mature quickly but then may become dangerous.