Aspen Tree
Rating: 2
Size: 20-60 ft tall
Shade: dappled soft to medium shade
Type: Fast growing softwood; spreads fast through root suckers
The quaking aspen seems to be the iconic native tree in Utah. These high altitude trees do well in cooler mountainous areas. They are beautiful with white bark and brilliant yellow leaves in the fall. The leaves seem to shimmer and rustle in the wind, giving it the quaking aspen nickname.
These trees, however, are more temperamental if planted in the Ogden/Layton, Utah metro area since the heat and dry conditions in lower valleys is particularly hard on them. Stressed aspens ay suffer from scorched leafs, leaf spots, borers, cankers, galls and iron chlorosis as well as a host of other problems. These are best grown in cooler mountain climates that the tree is native to.
Despite these problems, the aspen still extremely popular among homeowners as a beautiful almost ornamental tree that beautifies landscaping. If you choose to plant an aspen tree in your yard, make sure to eliminate suckers as the tree spreads through the root system. In fact, the aspen tree is perhaps the largest living organism on the planet since entire forests can be just one large interconnected tree. In attempting to eliminate sucker trees that sprout in the lawn, be sure to use mechanical means to remove them (mowing, cutting, pulling up roots) since an herbicide will travel back up the root and destroy the larger aspen tree that you want to keep for its beauty.