Its yellow-gray bark becomes ridged toward the base of the tree. The wide, smooth leaves are rounded at the base. Because Imperial is a male hybrid, it does not produce the cottony seed common to most poplar trees. It tolerates a wide variety of sites, but does very well on moderately sandy soils. Good aspen soils are usually drained, loamy, and high in organic matter, calcium, magnesium, nitrogen, and potassium.
Sandy soils offer poor growth conditions because of low levels of moisture and nutrients.
Clay soils are not desirable because of limited available water and poor aeration. Aspen is quick to pioneer disturbed sites where there is bare, moist mineral soil. The tree is fast growing and short lived. Aspen benefits many wildlife species. Aspen grows singly and in multi-stemmed clones.