Wildlife
- Feeds birds
- Shelter & nesting
Deer, moose, beaver, ruffed grouse, rabbits and many songbirds feed on its buds, twigs, bark and leaves or use it for cover.
Ships bare root
Native
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 2–3 ft tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
Native tree
Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides
- Ships 2–3 ft tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 1–6
- Grows 40–50 ft
$11.95Was $14.95Save 20%
5.0 out of 5 · 1 reviewsThe quick answer
Quaking aspen is a fast-growing native tree for USDA zones 1-6 that reaches 40-50 feet tall and 20-30 feet wide. It needs full sun and does poorly in hot summers south of zone 6. Buy it for white bark, leaves that tremble in any breeze and golden fall color, and expect root suckers.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
plants
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
Quaking Aspen plant profile
Mature size40–50 ft tall · 20–30 ft wide
Typical (40 ft)Up to 50 ft
Upright, narrow to rounded tree with smooth, whitish bark; spreads by root suckers into groves.
USDA hardiness zones1–6
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Needs full sun; it does not tolerate shade.
SoilpH 6.0–7.5
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Adapts to sandy, loamy, clay and rocky soils, including moist sites, as long as summers are cool.
Native to the USGolden yellow fall colorWindbreak
Flowers & fruit
Not grown for flowers; silvery catkins appear in early spring before the leaves. Female trees release small cottony seeds in late spring.
Leaves & fall color
Golden yellow in fall. Round leaves on flat stalks that tremble in the slightest breeze, turning golden yellow in fall.
Pests & disease
Cankers, leaf spots and insects such as aphids are common, especially on stressed trees in warm climates. Individual trunks are relatively short-lived.
Pruning
Prune in late winter to remove dead or damaged branches. Remove unwanted root suckers as they appear.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$11.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your Quaking Aspen
SPRINGSilvery catkins appear before the leaves.
SUMMERLeaves flutter in the lightest breeze over smooth whitish bark.
LATE SUMMERRoot suckers may pop up around the tree; mow or pull unwanted ones.
FALLBright golden-yellow fall color.
Questions people ask about Quaking Aspen
What zones can quaking aspen grow in?
Quaking aspen is hardy in USDA zones 1-6. It generally does not thrive south of zone 6 because it dislikes hot summers.
Does quaking aspen spread by suckers?
Yes. Aspen sends up new shoots from its shallow roots and naturally forms groves; mow or pull suckers where you do not want them.
How long does a quaking aspen live?
Individual trunks are fairly short-lived, about 50-60 years in the Great Lakes states. The root system keeps producing new stems.
Can quaking aspen grow in shade?
No. Aspen is shade-intolerant and needs full sun to grow well.
What does the quaking aspen look like when it arrives?
It ships as a dormant, leafless bare-root tree about 2-3 feet tall. Plant it soon after arrival and keep it watered the first season.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Water regularly until it's established.
Customer Reviews
Based on 1 review
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C
Our home got hit by a tornado in June...we lost 40 giant trees. I ordered a handful of bare root Quaking Aspens - they were shipped quickly. I wish they would have sent a few extras (hahahaha). THANK YOU ALL!
Plant facts checked October 2026 against: NC State Extension, USDA PLANTS Database.