Poplar is the general term for trees in the genus Populus. Most Populus species are native to the temperate and colder areas of the northern hemisphere. This can occur naturally where the geographic distribution of two crossable species overlap. Hybrids are also developed through plant breeding.
Hybrids are usually more widely adaptable or tolerant of environmental extremes than the parents.
Compelling reasons for planting hybrid poplars include rapid growth and ease of vegetative propogation from stem cuttings. On good sites, hybrid poplars grow faster than any other northern temperate region tree. For some products, harvests can be made yearly. Because of quick resprouting, replanting after harvesting may be unnecessary, especially for short harvest cycles. Since hybrid poplars are relatively new in the Pacific Northwest, markets for the wood are only beginning to be developed.