Mostly known as necklace poplar in New Zealand and by its former synonym P. deltoides 'Virginiana'. Given its widespread distribution, this female clone remains one of the most common poplars in the country.
'This necklace poplar is thought to have originated in France in the 1770's as a sport from cuttings of the female American cottonwood ( P. deltoides). The introduction to New Zealand occurred when a young plant was sent from Britain in a Wardian case in 1852 to James Deans of Homebush Station near Darfield Canterbury. This tree growing near the old homestead is the progenitor of the thousands of trees throughout New Zealand including this Frimley Park tree. The earliest recorded distribution of the tree as cuttings was made by the Armed Constabulary about 1865. These cuttings were planted around the blockhouses and redoubts during the New Zealand Wars period. While many of the fortifications are now gone there are large specimens of this species which mark these early sites. During the 1880's the timber was used for the decking of wagons and drays as well as for sheep pens. Their handsome nature, usefulness and ease of propagation from cuttings meant they were widely planted throughout this country. There are now over 100,000 trees in New Zealand and many of them are of a large size. Despite being of exotic origin they are estimated to be about 90% of the world population of poplars'. Ferkins 1993. 'It seems also that the tree suffered from the recent Hawkes Bay drought. The measurements have been checked three times.' Looij 1986. 'This is the largest known deciduous tree in New Zealand and one of the largest poplars in the world. Growth appears to be declining as, since 1969, the diameter has increased by 4cms and there has been little if any height increase'. Burstall 1969. Reference. Burstall SW. FM. Report no. 18; p.53.