Aspen (Populus tremula L.) is a natural component of British woodland and is in increasing demand for conservation and amenity planting. However, plants from native aspen sources are difficult to obtain from nurseries because of the lack of viable seed. Cuttings can be used as an alternative means of producing planting stock. Roots are dug up from mother trees in the forest and placed in a polyhouse to produce suckers. These suckers are excised and rooted under intermittent mist to produce one-year-old planting stock. Although there is considerable clonal variation, rooting percentages are generally high and growth after planting has been good.
