Common names: aspen, quaking aspen, common aspen, European aspen, European poplar 

Irish name: Crann creathach 

Latin name: Populus tremula  

Family: Salicaceae 

Origin: Native 

Tree type: Deciduous broadleaf tree

How it looks

Shape, bark, twigs 

Mature aspen trees can grow to 25m in height. The bark is a cream or grey colour and often has diamond-shaped pores called lenticels. As a young tree, the bark is usually smooth but, with age, will develop cracks and openings. Twigs are brown, slender, shiny and hang down loosely.  

Buds 

Arranged alternately along the stem, the buds are closely pressed against the twig. These buds are brown, sharply pointed, and typically measure between 5 and 8 mm in length. 

Leaves 

The leaves, measuring 5-7 cm long, take on an ovoid shape and feature irregular, blunt, wavy teeth along their edges. Aspen trees are often recognised by the gentle rustling of their leaves, which quiver in the slightest breeze. This effect is attributed to their long and flexible, flat leaf stem (petiole). Young leaves initially appear bronze in colour, gradually transitioning to a dark green with a lighter underside during the summer. Come autumn, the leaves turn a vibrant yellow before falling.  

Flowers 

Aspen trees are either male or female, a phenomenon known as dioecious. Flowers, in the form of catkins, appear between February and April before the leaves appear. Male catkins are 5-12 cm long, grey-brown, turning yellow in mid-March when releasing pollen. Female catkins are green, 5-6 cm, before being pollinated by wind.

Fruits 

Following pollination in early summer, female catkins elongate to a size of 10-12 cm and have between 50 and 80 capsules. Once fully ripe, these capsules burst open, releasing numerous tiny, fluffy seeds that are dispersed by the wind. 

For successful germination, the seeds must land in a suitable, moist environment within days of dispersal. These seeds maintain viability for only a brief period, resulting in the limited natural survival of aspen seedlings. Aspen trees can also propagate via new shoots that grow from their roots, a process known as suckering. Root suckering typically occurs when a tree is cut down or otherwise disturbed. While individual aspen trees may not have long lifespans, aspen clones can survive for hundreds or even thousands of years.

Similar species 

Similar species include other poplar species, such as black poplar (Populus nigra). White poplar (Populus alba) has rounded leaves compared to the black poplar’s more triangular/diamond-shaped leaves. The most familiar and commonly planted variety in Ireland is the Lombardy poplar, P. nigra var. italica. It is tall, upright, and narrow.

Where to find it

Aspen is a native tree species found in Ireland, although not in abundant numbers. It grows in groups of genetically identical individuals known as clonal colonies, where it often keeps 'suckering' rather than seeding. You can typically locate aspen near rivers, lakes, and oak and birch woodlands. This adaptable tree can thrive in various soil types, including heavy clay soils and well-drained sands and gravels. Aspen is a light-demanding tree but can tolerate some shading, making it well-suited to woodland edges and clearings. Its native range extends beyond Ireland to encompass much of Europe and Asia.

Cultural importance

History | Myth | Literature

History 

Little is written about the cultural history of Aspen in Ireland except for its inclusion as one of the ‘Lower Divisions of the Wood’ in the early Irish tree lists and the translation of its Irish name, Crithach, which means 'the trembling or shivering one'. As with the higher divisions of the wood,  anyone who unlawfully damaged a tree from the lower divisions would be required to pay a penalty. In line with this status, Aspen was also included in the later Medieval ogham alphabet where it is used to represent the letter 'E': 

The lack of historical information about Aspen is possibly due to the fact that it produced soft, and thus less economically valuable, timber. Another reason may be, as myth and folklore tell us, that it was generally considered to be an unlucky tree. However, an Iron Age (c. 800 BC-400 AD) cauldron made of Aspen discovered in a bog in County Monaghan in the 1930s indicates that at least during the prehistoric period Aspen wood was used to make domestic objects. In addition, an early Irish poem, the Lay of Iubhadan, recommends the use of Aspen as firewood, so it was likely used for this purpose during the Medieval period. Another source suggests that it was also used as animal fodder.

Interestingly, the Greek name for Aspen is Aspis, which means 'shield'. It is thought that Celtic peoples used Aspen wood to make shields. Going further back in time, crowns of aspen have been discovered in burial mounds in Mesopotamia dating to c. 3000 BC (over 5000 years ago). This was clearly of significance and may have had a similar meaning to that in classical mythology, where wearing a crown of Aspen gave the wearer the ability to walk between the this world and the 'otherworld'.

Only one placename in Ireland takes its name from Aspen - Crancragh or An Crann Creathach in County Offaly, which means 'the aspen tree'. 

Myth, Legend and Folklore 

Niall Mac Coitir reveals that the Aspen tree was regarded with ‘horror’ in ancient Ireland and was traditionally associated with death and the otherworld. A tenth century Irish glossary describes how the ‘wand’ of the Aspen was used for measuring graves and bodies. It was seen as very unlucky to hold the wand in one’s hand, as it was used to strike or rid one of anything unwanted, negative or cursed. Aspen features in the Irish stories about the Fianna and in the ‘The Fate of the Children of Uisneach’ as an omen of death or approaching death. However, the warrior Cú Chulainn is said to have had a shield made of aspen for protection against fear. 

In Scotland and the UK, it was thought that by nailing a piece of a sick person’s hair to an Aspen that the illness would transfer to the Aspen resulting in a cure. However, in Scottish folklore, Aspen was also associated with witchcraft and the otherworld. Amongst other Celtic cultures it was the sound made by the fluttering of the leaves in the wind was thought to be a communication from the otherworld. Similarly, it has been suggested that Celtic peoples believed Aspen shields could protect people both physically as well as psychically. Whereas in the classical myths Aspen was often linked with sorrow.

Literature 

As well as its presence in the mythological literature, Aspen, especially the image its trembling leaves, feature in early Irish poetry, such as Laoi Shuibhne or Sweeney’s Lay, as a symbol of downfall and loss. 

Value to wildlife

Aspen trees attract a wide variety of insects, with many being highly specialised and relying exclusively on aspen for their survival. In turn, these insects become a vital food source for various predatory insects and birds, contributing to the broader food web. Aspen is an important host for epiphytes (plant or plant-like organisms that grow on the surface of another plant), such as liverworts, hornworts, mosses, and lichens. Additionally, aspen is a favourite food for the native red deer and non-native deer species.

Threats

Aspen is susceptible to the Hypoxylon canker, which disfigures and can occasionally kill infected trees. In Ireland, Hypoxylon canker is a quarantine pest, meaning it is not yet present, or present but not widely distributed and being officially controlled. However, it has spread across most of Europe.  

To learn more about threats to Irish trees, visit ‘Threats to Trees.’ 

Uses

Aspen wood is characterised by its white, soft, lightweight, yet sturdy nature. It has been used to craft oars and paddles, and its low flammability makes it a favourable choice for producing matches and paper. Aspen wood is also well-suited for use as firewood. 

During times of scarcity and food shortages, the inner bark of aspen was dried and ground into a powder, which could then be added to flour for making bread.

References

BBC Country File. 2021. Aspen Tree Guide: Identification, Distribution and Folklore. BBC Country File Magazine. Aspen tree guide: identification, distribution and folklore - Countryfile.com

Kelly, F. 1999. Trees in Early Ireland, Augustine Henry Memorial Lecture 11th March 1999, Irish forestry: Journal of the Society of Irish Foresters, 56, 39-57.  

MacCoitir, N. 2015. Ireland’s Trees: Myths, Legends and Folklore. Cork: The Collins Press. 

Mahr, A., 1934. A wooden cauldron from Altartate, Co. Monaghan. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Section C: Archaeology, Celtic Studies, History, Linguistics, Literature, 42, pp.11-29.

McLoughlin, J. 2016. Trees and woodland names in Irish placenames, Irish Forestry, 73, 239-257. 

McMahon, P. 2023. Island of Woods: How Ireland Lost Its Forests and How to Get Them Back, Dublin: New Island Books. 

McManus, D. 1991. A Guide to Ogam, Maynooth: An Sagart.  

Meikle, R. D., & Gordon, V. 2001. Willows and poplars of Great Britain and Ireland (Repr). Botanical Society of the British Isles. 

Neeson, E. 1991. A History of Irish Forestry, Dublin: The Lilliput Press Ltd. 

Stroh, P. A., Humphrey, T. A., Burkmar, R. J., Pescott, O. L., Roy, D. B., & Walker, K. J. 2023. BSBI Online Plant Atlas 2020. https://plantatlas2020.org/atlas

Tree Council of Ireland. 2024. Native Irish Trees. Tree Council of Ireland. https://www.treecouncil.ie/native-irish-trees

Trees for Life. 2024. Aspen: Mythology and Folklore. Trees for Life. Aspen mythology and folklore | Trees for Life

Woodland Trust. 2024. A-Z of British trees. Woodland Trust. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/