Populus euphratica aka Euphrates Poplar

Populus euphratica, or Firat poplar, is a deciduous tree. It belongs to the willow family, Salicaceae. Its native range stretches from North Africa to Mongolia and the western Himalaya. Records include parts of the Middle East and Central Asia. It also grows in Pakistan and several regions of China. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This fast-growing tree reaches about 49 feet [15 metres] tall. It grows on plains and in valleys and basins. Rich ground that floods for part of the year suits it. Chinese records place it between 656 and 7,874 feet [200–2,400 metres] above sea level. Other habitat records reach 13,123 feet [4,000 metres]. It sheds its leaves each year. The supplied sources give little detail about leaf shape or bark.

Male and female flowers grow on separate trees. Wind carries the pollen between them. Both sexes must be present for seed production. A lone tree cannot fertilise itself. The evidence gives no species-specific flower colour or flowering season. It also gives no clear account of the fruit. These gaps limit its value as a guide to seasonal display.

Grow this poplar in full sun, since it cannot tolerate shade. It prefers moist or wet ground with good drainage. It accepts sandy, loamy and clay soils. Mildly acid, neutral and mildly alkaline soils all suit it. PFAF suggests it for woodland canopy planting and bog gardens. Its notes do not confirm hardiness in Britain. The tree regrows readily after coppicing and produces many root suckers. These can appear some distance from the parent tree. Allow for this spread when choosing a planting site.

The wood serves for construction and turned work. It resists wear but lacks durability and makes poor fuel. The inner bark has served as a slow-burning match. PFAF also reports using soaked shoots to make a rooting extract. It lists the bark as a treatment for intestinal worms. Its broader pain-relief claims rely on evidence about other poplars. Those claims do not establish this species' effects. PFAF lists no known edible uses or hazards. That does not prove safety for people or pets. The supplied evidence names no species-specific pests or diseases.