Trembling aspen is a slender, graceful tree with smooth, greenish white bark and distinctive leaves that quiver in the slightest breeze, giving it its name.
Trembling aspen is the most common of the fast-growing, small-diameter species used to make oriented strand board (OSB) and laminated veneer lumber (LVL). Aspen has gained acceptance in the construction market as studs, and its bright white colour is well suited to appearance applications.
It is found throughout British Columbia east of the Coast Range.
Where it grows
Trembling aspen grows in many soil conditions across the B.C. interior from sea level to 3,000 metres and is especially common in the northeast. It often appears in even-aged, pure stands and has a shorter lifespan than most trees due to its susceptibility to decay. Aspen sprout from root suckers and form clones of individual stems. Many kinds of wildlife use the foliage, twigs and buds for food.
Did you know?
OSB is a widely used, economical structural wood panel that uses fast-growing species like aspen to make efficient use of forest resources. The panels are made from thin strands of wood sliced from small-diameter roundwood logs or blocks and bonded together with a waterproof phenolic adhesive that is cured under heat and pressure.
Identifiable characteristics
Trembling aspen is a deciduous broadleaf tree with smooth greenish-white bark that does not peel. A fast-growing tree, it lives on average 50 to 75 years and rarely more than 150 years. It grows up to 40 metres tall and has distinctive leaves that quiver in the slightest breeze. The leaves are smooth and round to triangular shaped with a flattened stalk that is longer than the leaf. The leaves are dark green on top and paler underneath and turn golden yellow or red in the fall. Male and female flowers grow on separate trees—male catkins are two to three centimetres and female catkins are four to 10 centimetres. The fruit are tiny capsules covered with cottony down.
