"Aspen is in general propagated from root cuttings. Cuttings should be taken in early spring after the threat of frost. They should be collected from roots of vigorous healthy adult trees. The roots taken should have a diameter of a half inch to one inch in diameter, with a length of about one foot.

Admirers frequently note the striking white bark of quaking aspen. This bark lives and carries out photosynthesis, attributes that make it unique among North American trees and likely contribute to its impressive geographic range (Figure 1). The white bark is living tissue, unique among North American trees.

Plant the cuttings deeply (two thirds of each cutting below ground) into well drained soil or compost, and do not allow to dry out. The cuttings can produce strong new shoots throughout spring and summer and can be large enough to plant out after one growing season.

Reproduction. Aspen reproduces both by seeds and by root sprouts, though sprouting is the most common and successful form of reproduction. Aspen produces small flowers, on catkins that are 1-2 inches long. These flowers are produced in the early spring before the leaves grow on the trees."