Choose Poplars for their farm benefits
The perfect pastoral farm tree
Poplars offer shade and shelter, their fast-growing roots hold hillsides together, they are a good fodder source in a drought, they can produce great timber if managed well, and they sequester carbon.
Our varieties
At Plant Hawke’s Bay, we offer three Poplar cultivars, Veronese, Kawa and Crowsnest.
Veronese Poplar
Veronese Poplar is a black poplar hybrid of Populus x euramericana. It is broadly columnar and vigorous, suiting dry and windy hillsides where it is relatively drought tolerant. The leaves create a heavy shade and turn yellow in autumn. It provides excellent shelter when in leaf. Veronese’s main uses are for soil conservation, shelter belts, timber plantations and for stock fodder.
Kawa Poplar
Kawa Poplar is a balsam hybrid; a cross between Populus deltoides and P.yunnanensis. It is broadly columnar and very vigorous. Kawa is best on moist sites and possums don’t find it very palatable. It is best planted in gullies and valley floors, away from exposed dry sites. Kawa’s leaves turn yellow in autumn, later than other hybrid poplars.
Crowsnest Poplar
Crowsnest Poplar has a very narrow form and is perfect for shelterbelts and windbreaks. It is reasonably drought tolerant, so it’s good for soil conservation. It has low to moderate rust resistance and is palatable to possums. Crowsnest is a backcross between (Populus deltoides x P. nigra) x P. nigra.
Photo: NZ Poplar and Willow Research Trust
Click to enlarge
Why plant rooted cutting Poplars?
A Step-by-Step Guide
How to plant and protect your poplars
Hawke’s Bay farmers Greg and Lorna Morice have perfected a quick and efficient method for planting and protecting Veronese Poplars using Ekidna cages.
Watch Greg’s video for detailed instructions. He demonstrates how to use a Makita drill with a 20cm auger to create planting holes, with each battery charge lasting for around 60 holes.
Pricing
Discounts may be available for larger orders.
1.6L anti-spiralling pots
$7.50 plus GST
50 cent refund for every pot returned to the nursery in good condition.
Bomentray grade plants
$3.75 plus GST
