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Plant Facts
Quick Answer
Poplar pollen is shown in this guide as an orange and amber tone. It is listed as tree, associated with spring bloom timing, USDA zone 3 - 9, and pollen forage value.
Pollen Color Notes
The visual color shown for Poplar is grouped broadly with orange and amber pollen tones. It is intended for comparison and identification support, not as a laboratory measurement.
Pollen color is highly variable. Lighting, pollen age, moisture, collection method, cultivar, and local growing conditions can all change how pollen appears. Use this as general visual guidance, not a scientific color standard or guaranteed field match.
Bloom, Zone, and Forage Context
Poplar is listed for spring. The record lists USDA zone 3 - 9; hardiness zones are planning context, not a precise flowering calendar. Approximate bloom months in the supplemental notes: February, March, April, May.
Its forage type is pollen, with pollen value marked as medium. Poplars are wind-pollinated and provide pollen but not floral nectar; bees also collect resin from some species for propolis.
Identification Notes
Deciduous trees with hanging catkins and wind-dispersed seeds; the broad label includes poplars, aspens, and cottonwoods.
Flower color note: Reddish, greenish, or gray-brown catkins. Flower color and pollen color may differ.
Related by Similar Color
Related by Season
Related by Plant Type
Related by USDA Zone
Related by Bee Forage
Sources
United States Department of Agriculture / reviewed 2026-07-12
scientific name, common name, distribution context, plant classification NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
North Carolina State University Extension / reviewed 2026-07-12
plant identification, flower description, landscape and growing context Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Foundation contributors / reviewed 2026-07-12
plant image, image credit link