Populus ‘Klaus Select’ Summer Shimmer – Summer Shimmer™ Aspen

Botanical Name: Populus tremuloides ‘Summer Shimmer’

Alternate Name: ​​Populus tremuloides ‘Klaus Select’

The Summer Shimmer Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides ‘Summer Shimmer’) is an outstanding, medium sized, hardy deciduous tree. It is grown for its attractive two-tone quaking foliage, beautiful white bark, and radiant fall color.

This Quaking Aspen cultivar grows in a pyramidal shape with a single trunk and graceful, upright branching. It grows to a height of 50-60 feet with a spread of 35-40 feet.  It is a cultivar of Populus tremuloides (Quaking Aspen) that is also known as Populus tremuloides ‘Klaus Select’. This selection was developed by Kendal Klaus at Hastings Nursery in Minnesota.

The leaves are slightly bigger than the species and ovoid shaped with serrated margins. The tops of the leaves are a glossy dark green with a light silvery green underneath. The fall color is bright golden yellow. As the leaves tremble in the wind, the shimmering visual effect is dazzling, as the tops and then the undersides of the leaves are exposed.

The quaking aspen sound is made when the breeze hits the leaves, due to the long, flattened leaf petioles. The flowers are small, hanging, light green catkins, followed by small brown seed capsules.

The Summer Shimmer Quaking Aspen prefers to grow in full sun and is tolerant of wet and dry soils. Its leaves have good disease resistance, and it is also a good selection to plant for wildlife.