Balsam Poplar
'Leaf emergence'Populus balsamifera
Salicaceae · broadleaf deciduous tree · native
Last updated
Quick Facts
Height
130 ft
Spread
26 ft
Growth Rate
Fast
Light
Full Sun
Soil
Wet Tolerant
Water
High
Hardiness
Zone Zones 1a–8b
Origin
North America
Watch for this season
Bacterial BlightHigh
Spring Infection Period
Cytospora CankerHigh
Spring Canker Activation
Leaf BlisterHigh
Spring Spore Germination and Infection
Oystershell scaleHigh
Crawler Emergence
+ 8 more — see full disease and pest lists below
Phenological Calendar
As of May 13, 2026, Puget Sound stations range from 1906.2 to 2098.2 GDD₃₂. Balsam Poplar has reached 'leaf emergence' (1586 GDD₃₂) and is approaching 'bud break', predicted around Jul 10.
Regional Season Tracker
GDD₃₂ accumulation across 7 Puget Sound stations · as of May 13, 2026| Station | GDD₃₂ | Current Stage | Next | To Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issaquah / East King | 2,098 | 'Leaf emergence' | 'Bud break' | 1,549 |
| Kent / Auburn | 2,089 | 'Leaf emergence' | 'Bud break' | 1,558 |
| Seattle / UW | 2,063 | 'Leaf emergence' | 'Bud break' | 1,584 |
| Olympia / Tumwater | 2,025 | 'Leaf emergence' | 'Bud break' | 1,622 |
| Tacoma / Puyallup | 1,993 | 'Leaf emergence' | 'Bud break' | 1,654 |
| Bellingham / Whatcom | 1,972 | 'Leaf emergence' | 'Bud break' | 1,675 |
| Sequim / Rain Shadow | 1,906 | 'Leaf emergence' | 'Bud break' | 1,741 |
| Stage | GDD32 | Typical Window |
|---|---|---|
| ● 'Leaf emergence' BBCH '11' NOW | 1586 | '' |
| ○ 'Bud break' BBCH '07' NEXT | 3647 | '' est. Jul 10 (avg) |
Source: 'NPN citizen science observations (WA+OR), n=17, median. services.usanpn.org' About GDD₃₂ →
Season tracker for Kent / Auburn as of May 13, 2026. Predicted dates use 16-day weather forecast through May 30, 2026, then climate normals.
Diseases: Regionally Documented (17)
Marssonina Leaf Spot Uredinales (rust fungi) Leaf Rust Taphrina spp. Leaf Blister [VERIFY] Leaf and Shoot Blight Symptom category — not a single disease Canker Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae Bacterial Blight Armillaria spp. — primarily A Armillaria Root Rot Daldinia concentrica Aspen Trunk Rot Ceratocystis fimbriata (black canker); Cytospora notastro... Black Canker (Target Canker) Cryptosphaeria punctata Cryptosphaeria Canker (Snake Canker) Cytospora spp. (Valsa spp., Leucostoma spp.) Cytospora Canker [VERIFY] Ink Spot Sooty-bark Canker Rhizobium radiobacter (formerly Agrobacterium tumefaciens) Crown Gall Multiple obligate biotrophic fungi (Erysiphales: Erysipha... Powdery Mildew Septoria Leaf Spot and Canker Sclerotinia spp. White Mottled Rot
Pests: Regionally Documented (14)
Malacosoma spp. Tent caterpillar Leucoma salicis Satin moth Various (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera) Borer Pemphigus populitransversus Poplar Petiole Gall Aphids Lepidosaphes ulmi Oystershell scale Prionoxystus robiniae Carpenterworm Phyllonorycter apparella Aspen leaf blotch miner Euhexomyza schineri Poplar twiggall fly Aphidoidea Aphid Acanthococcus azaleae Azalea bark scale Hyphantria cunea Fall webworm Edwardsiana rosae Rose leafhopper Various (Gracillariidae, Agromyzidae) Leaf blotchminer Pemphigus bursarius Lettuce root aphid
Data Maturity Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.