The quaking aspen grows quickly, copes well with extreme weather and is home to many animal species. Because of these characteristics and its associated importance as a pioneer for reforestation, climate adaptation and biodiversity, it has now been voted “Tree of the Year”.
The quaking aspen (Populus tremula), also known as aspen or aspen, is a native tree species in Central Europe that is considered to be particularly fast-growing and robust. It can cope with a wide range of soils, water levels and temperatures and is therefore resistant to heat, drought, constant rain and other weather extremes. The name itself indicates another resilience of the tree: the almost round leaves of the aspen with their long, flattened stem “tremble” even when there is a slight draft and thus avoid the wind. This also effectively protects the tree, which can be up to 30 meters high, from storm damage in its often bright locations on the side of the road.
Pioneer of new forests and preserver of biodiversity
The quaking aspen is therefore often the first tree species to be planted on fallow bare areas in order to prepare the ground for other species as a pioneer species. With its easily rotting leaves, it provides humus and an improved microclimate of the soil and thus ensures natural and stable reforestation. According to experts, in times of climate crisis, the tree species is likely to increase in value in the future and be used even more frequently than it is currently. Another advantage of quaking aspen trees: Although they grow quickly and are fully grown after just 60 years, they only live around 100 years. As the forest develops naturally, the poplars become overgrown and overshadowed over time by subsequent trees such as the European beech. The light-requiring poplars then die. A mixed forest develops from initial monocultures of quaking aspen trees, in which the pioneers do not threaten the existence of other forest species, but rather enrich and stabilize them.
In addition, aspen trees provide food and living space for many insects, birds, bats and other animals. For example, they use their leaves to feed the caterpillars of many butterflies, including rare butterflies such as the kingfisher and the lesser butterfly. Their thick trunks made of soft wood offer shelter – both dead and alive – in the form of numerous tree hollows and thus a habitat for woodpeckers, bats and insects. The wood also serves as food. The tree is therefore also considered a hotspot for biodiversity and is likely to become more important as species die out.
Tree of the year 2026
Because of these properties and its ecological importance, the quaking aspen has now been selected by a committee of Dr. Silvius Wodarz Foundation named “Tree of the Year 2026”. The annual award is intended to help make the respective tree species better known and increase its appreciation. “Aspen trees are real trees of the future for biodiversity and climate, which we should give more space to,” says Nicola Uhde from the Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation Germany (BUND), who is a member of the board of trustees for choosing the Tree of the Year. The BUND is therefore calling on forest owners not to remove naturally occurring quaking aspen trees, but to allow them to grow with them. The BUND is also calling on cities and municipalities to reforest even more bare areas in Germany using quaking aspen trees and to enshrine this in law.
Sources: Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation Germany eV (BUND), German Forest Protection Association e. V. (SDW)