DescriptionDelivery & Guarantee
Populus nigra Italica / Populus nigra Pyramidalis - Lombardi Poplar
The Lombardy poplar (spelt Lombardi in Europe) is one of the most recognizable trees in the country, thanks to its totally upright (fastigiate, to use the botanical term) growth. Populus nigra Italica was introduced to Britain in the 1750's and can now be found in every corner of the land, such is its popularity.
You can also buy smaller Lombardy Poplar saplings here.
Their extemely tall, slender form became a real fashion statement and a drive way lined with poplars in summer not only gives a grand air to a property, it also requires no pruning to keep it looking superbly neat and tidy. Their bark is rough and becomes ridged at a young age, while their leaves are a squashed teardrop shape. They bear quite long, copper-orange catkins in spring that spread their pollen in the wind, putting on a little show just before the leaves appear. Unfortunately, the pollen is unlikely to reach its goal; all Lombardy poplar trees sold to the public are male, cloned from one original parent (the female of the species is not as fastigiate as the male). This tree used to be known as Populus nigra Pyramidalis, though it is hard to think of a tree that is less pyramid shaped!
Lombardy Poplar | Planting, Pruning and Caring for Your Plants:
Growing Populus nigra Italica is easy, it's getting it to stop that can be tricky! As long as your soil isn't chalky, Lombardy poplar is sure to love it. It can even handle having its roots in quite boggy ground, as long as it you plant it into a raised mound that keeps the base of the trunk away from the worst of the damp. Their roots are invasive enough for us to recommend that you plant them away from your house or drains. The joy of poplar is that there is no need to prune them - they will grow tall and straight without any help at all. The tallest poplars can reach 40-45 metres, 130 - 150 feet, though 30 metres, 100 feet, is probably about average. Despite their stature, Lombardy poplars should not develop a crown wider than a mere 5 metres, 15 feet across.
Please watch our tree planting video for full planting instructions.
How Standard Trees are Measured:
All the plants in the ornamental trees section are graded as standards, which means that they are measured by their girth in centimetres 1 metre above ground level (basically, their trunk's waist measurement). They aren't measured by their height, which will vary.
So, a 6/8 standard has a trunk with a circumference of 6-8 centimetres and an 8/10 standard has a trunk 8-10 centimetres around.
This measurement makes no difference to the tree's final height. Most standards are between 2 - 3.5 metres tall, but this is just an average. We cannot tell you how tall your trees will be before we deliver them.
Read our full terms and conditions here.
Delivery: Any order with a standard sized tree in it has a basic delivery charge of £12.55 + vat.
Because couriers sometimes experience delays, we schedule delivery by week, not by day. Therefore, please plan your planting day for the weekend at the end of the delivery week or for the week following delivery, at the earliest.
You can choose the delivery week that suits you during checkout and we will email you the day before your plants are due to arrive.
Payment: We do not charge your card until we begin to prepare your order for packing.
Guarantee: If any plants die within a year, we will replace them. We only ask that you follow our planting & growing instructions and sent us clear photographs of the dead plants in situ, so we can help to make sure that the replacement plants succeed. You only pay for the delivery of the replacements.
Please note that our guarantee is void if there is a hosepipe ban in your area: your newly planted trees must be watered in dry weather while they are establishing. The best way to water is very thoroughly every few days: at least once a week if there is no heavy rain.
Our nursery has been supplying large ornamental trees to gardeners since 1949. Our website started in 2003, so we do understand the concerns that you may have about buying specimen trees online. If any of your plants are damaged when they arrive or if you are otherwise not satisfied with your order after you inspect it, please repackage it and contact us. We will give you a refund or send replacements and send a courier to come and collect the unwanted plants.
Your 12 Month Guarantee
If any plants die within a year, we replace them if you have followed our instructions. You only pay for
the delivery of the replacements.
Place an order for £250 excluding VAT and delivery and we deliver it for FREE!
Bare-root Plants are only delivered in the winter season, from November to March. Pot grown plants can be delivered all year round
Advantages of Bare-root plants:
You pay less for the same size plants.
You can carry and plan them easily.
You only plant them in winter, so they need less maintenance after
planting. The rain will water them for their first few months.
You get the biggest selection: Many trees are not sold pot-grown.
They are "asleep" in winter - this is the best time to transplant any tree.
They use fewer fertilisers & fungicides, less water and fuel in their production & delivery.
Advantages of Pot Grown plants:
Pot grown plants can be delivered & planted all year round.
Plants with tender roots & larger specimens must be delivered in pots.
Plants in pots can be kept for months longer if there is a delay in planting.
Our Advice to You:
If you can't wait to get planting, order Pot grown plants now.
If you are not in a hurry, order bare-root plants for delivery this winter. Simply add them to your basket and choose a winter delivery date that suits you during checkout.
This will reserve your plants before they sell out.
We won't charge you until the day before delivery, so cancelling your order is always easy.
If you are only ordering chemicals and other small items, delivery is £3.50
Our delivery charge for most bareroot plants is £9.49 + VAT.
If your order contains any standard sized trees, fruit trees or pot-grown plants, then the delivery charge is £12.55 + VAT in TOTAL.
If you live in the Scottish Highlands or the Isle of Wight, there will be an extra charge of £15 + VAT on top of the appropriate basic charge, as listed above.
If your order is over £250 exc. VAT, there will be no delivery charge.
If you are uncertain, just add items to your basket which will calculate the basic shipping charge for you.
