Lombardy Poplar Sapling Trees

Populus Nigra Italica

Delivered by Mail Order Direct from our Nursery with a Year Guarantee

Lombardy Poplar, Populus nigra Italica, is a vigorous, upright tree with a very narrow canopy. They need a well drained, chalk free soil and plenty of sun.
Lombardy Poplar is not suitable for a clipped hedge. It is commonly planted in rows as a tall screen.

It can be grown as a screening tree up to about 30 metres high with a canopy just 5 metres wide. The plants on this page are young saplings, you can also buy larger Lombardy Poplar trees in standard sizes.

Lombardy Poplar plants are only delivered bareroot, during winter (Nov-March).

Browse our large tree varieties or all of our trees.

Choosing a size:
When you are ordering a large quantity of Lombardy Poplar for a big planting project, we suggest that you buy smaller plants. They are cheaper than large plants, easier to handle and more likely to cope well with poor conditions.
All of our young trees and shrubs are measured by their height in centimetres above the ground (the roots aren't measured).

General description of Populus nigra Italica plants:

The Lombardy or Lombardi poplar is tall, narrow tree is famous for being planted along driveways and as screening around cricket pitches. It grows very quickly and is happy on poor, dry soils. The twiggy branches are almost vertical, giving the tree a slender shape that also makes a decent barrier to vision year round.

History & uses of Populus nigra Italica:

This old variety originated as a form of Black Poplar in Northern Italy, sometime in the late 1600's. It became popular in Britain from the mid-1700's. All the Lombardy Poplars that exist today are male clones of the original tree.

Notes on planting Lombardy Poplar:
We recommend these trees for areas with dry, dusty soil or more fertile earth that is elavated and free draining. When they are well established, they are very drought hardy. These trees will not stand damp soil conditions very well. Like most poplars (apart from White Poplar), they hate chalk soil.
Your trees will reach a bit over 30 metres tall, with a maximum canopy width of only 5 metres.

Prepare your site before planting:
It is good to dig over the area where you intend to plant several months in advance. Destroy the weeds first: nettles, brambles and ground elder are tough and a glyphosate based weed-killer is the best way to remove them. Then dig the soil over; remove rocks, roots and other rubbish. Mix in well rotted compost or manure down to the depth of about 2 spades.
If you have a heavy clay soil, it might be too difficult to dig over for most of the year. Heavy clay is fertile soil, so you don't really need to improve it; killing the weeds is still necessary.

Remember to water establishing plants during dry weather for at least a year after planting.

Planting accessories:
Prepare your site for planting by killing the weeds and grass with Neudorff WeedFree Plus.
If you are planting in an area with rabbit and/or deer, you will need to use a protective plastic spiral for each plant, supported by a bamboo cane.
If your soil quality is poor, we recommend using mycorrhizal "friendly fungi" on the roots of new trees and shrubs.
You can also improve your soil with bonemeal organic fertiliser and Growmore.

After Care

After you plant your Lombardy Poplar trees, the most important thing to do is water them in dry weather. You will also need to weed around the plants. Both of these will be necessary for at least a year after planting.
Water thoroughly but not too often: let the soil get close to drying out before watering your plants again.

Special notes on caring for Lombardy Poplar:
Lombardy Poplar is a very tough plant that shouldn't need special attention once it has established. If pruning is necessary, it is best do it in winter. Always hire a tree surgeon to remove large branches.

Hygiene & Diseases:
Dead, damaged or diseased wood can be pruned off as soon as it appears.
Disinfect your pruning tools between every cut if there is any sign of disease.
Burn or dispose of any diseased material, do not compost it.