Poplar Tree Symbolism Facts & Meaning: Zodiac, Superstitions, Dreams, and Myths
From the Latin word “Populus”, the Poplar Tree is known as the tree of people. Along with the aspen and cottonwood tree, the Poplar Tree is a member of the Populus genus.
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Poplar Tree Facts
Popular for its immense height, this dioecious tree can reach up to 160 feet. It develops individual male and female flowers that form catkins hanging on its branches, which appear early in the spring before the leaves emerge.
The leaves have various shapes and sizes but the most common is oval and heart-shaped with toothed edges. The bark can come in different colors like brown, light green, gray, or white.
When planted near the sidewalk, it can destroy the concrete because it has a strong root system reaching 130 feet in diameter. This tree grows rapidly but can only survive for up to 50 years.
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Poplar Tree Uses
Poplar has a symmetric appearance and is therefore perfect for landscaping. It can carry sound pleasantly, which makes it a good tonewood to create instruments like flutes, drums, violas, and guitars.
The wood is also high in cellulose and low in lignin which is why it is used for the production of papers. Moreover, Poplar wood is also used for panel painting. In fact, the Mona Lisa was painted on a panel of Poplar.
Like some trees, Poplar Trees are grown in large plantations to create pale and bright plywood. This plywood is useful in construction, carpentry, packaging, and creating furniture.
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Poplar Tree History
This tree originated in Europe and Asia. There are many types of Poplar Trees but the Populus wilmattae is the oldest recognizable fossil that has been discovered in North America. It was said to be from the Late Paleocene period which was about 58 million years ago.
The name originated from the word “Populus”, which is a Roman term for people. In the 6th century, Romans would plant and conduct their public meetings under Populus trees that can provide for an excellent shade. Species of the genus can be taken advantage for their large body size and long branches.
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Poplar Tree Positive Symbolism
Poplar Tree casts shadow that provides shade to those who want to stay under, it becomes a symbol of protection. It also has strong roots that hold firmly to the soil, which symbolizes stability in life.
Crown made from Poplar is a symbol of courage, heroism, and triumph as it was believed to have been worn by Hercules after winning a battle.
Aside from these, the Poplar Tree is seen as a symbolic representation of fertility, abundance, endurance, and youthfulness. It is also a sign of hope and revival, so it would be a great gift for someone who wants to start anew in life.
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Poplar Tree Negative Symbolism
The negative symbolism of the Poplar Tree is associated when the tree is not standing straight.
A crooked Poplar Tree is a symbol of a life on the wrong path. It also symbolizes melancholy as it is associated with the world of the dead.
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Poplar Tree Cultural Symbolism
One of the high-ranking class in ancient Celtic, the Druids, consider the Poplar Tree as a symbol of the old age of man. Because just like the white hair of an old man, the leaves of some Poplar Tree species on one side are also white in color.
In European tradition, the Poplar Tree serves as a connection of our world to the other world and symbolizes the memory of the dead.
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Poplar Tree Zodiac Sign
Based on the Celtic zodiac, people born on February 4 to 8 and August 5 to 13 are under the Poplar sign. They are guided by knowledge with the desire to understand everything. Because of that, they don’t easily choose to believe their intuition. They are more of practical thinkers.
They can reach success fast due to their sharp minds and determination. However, just like the fast-growing Poplar Trees, they have a soft core. So while still young, it is advisable to mold them to be strong on the inside.
People under the Poplar sign are compatible with Lime, Fig, and Nut signs. On the contrary, they are incompatible with Beech, Elm, and Olive signs.
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Poplar Tree in Dreams
Seeing a Poplar Tree in your dream is a sign of happiness, prosperity, and peacefulness in your life. If the Poplar Tree is standing straight with a narrow trunk, it means that you are on the right track so just continue what you are doing in life. However, if the Poplar Tree is crooked, then it is a sign that you should be aware of your negative attitudes and change them so that you won’t be lost in life.
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Poplar Tree Omens and Superstitions
There is a belief that planting Poplar Trees near a house could bring bad luck to the people living there. It is also unlucky to place any kind of furniture that is made of Poplar inside the house. In addition, you should not try to pick up the catkins or flowers of the Poplar Tree because based on some superstitions, these are the fingers of the devil. With that said, it could bring bad luck to whoever picks it.
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Poplar Tree Mythology and Folklore
The White Poplar Tree was sacred in Roman mythology because Hercules defeated the monstrous, fire-breathing giant called Cacus next to a hill full of White Poplars. To celebrate his victory, he wore a crown made from the branches of the Poplar Tree. Due to this tale, wearing garlands made from White Poplar became a tradition when winning battles. From then on, White Poplar became a symbol for honoring our beloved ones who passed away for them to have a peaceful afterlife.
In Greek mythology, the daughter of Oceanus named Leuce was abducted by the God of the underworld Hades because he fell in love with her. She spent all the remaining time of her life in his world and when she died, Hades turned her into a White Poplar which he placed in the Elysian fields.
