Farm Forestry New ZealandNorthland poplar trials
Report Date: Ongoing, from 2021.
Author: Dean Satchell
Senior Forest Service Advisor
Forest Service Advice
Te Uru Rākau - New Zealand Forest Service
Ministry for Primary Industries - Manatū Ahu Matua
forestserviceadvice@mpi.govt.nz
Mobile: 022 0107961
Phone: +64 9 2207864
Cultivars - Wai-iti
Bred in 1982, this poplar clone was selected by Stan Braaksma from the Wai-iti poplar trial in the Wairarapa, and has shown good drought tolerance and nice autumn colours. The P. trichocarpa male parent of this hybrid clone is from California. Although this clone suckers, "it's not too bad" according to Stan. He describes the root extension as "awesome, 20m or more from the tree".
In 2018 Trevor Jones assessed the Wai-iti poplar trial planted in 1988 (30 years old) and was impressed with the growth and form of this cultivar, it was the best of the P. deltoides x P. trichocarpa at the trial. Trevor supplied this cultivar to Northland Regional Council in 2021, because P. trichocarpa (balsam) parentage should induce some possum resistance.
Trevor subsequently visited Stan Braaksma's at Wairarapa and took photos (below) of his 3 trees in 2023, and was again impressed with these. Age is unknown, but estimated to be 20 years.
P. deltoides x P. trichocarpa
NZ 82-171-007 (NZ 5039)
Mother: P. deltoides NZ 73-054-092 (Illinois)
Father: P. trichocarpa NZ 74-150-012 (California)
Sex: Female
Trials with this cultivar:
Wai-iti clone at Stan Braaksma's, Wairarapa, April 2019. Photo Trevor Jones
Wai-iti clone at Stan Braaksma's, Wairarapa, 2023. Photo Trevor Jones
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