HOW DOES ASPEN GROW?
When you look at a group of aspen trees, realize you are probably looking at a single tree or organism with many trunks interconnected by an extensive root system. Aspen trees produce seeds, but the seeds do not germinate readily. To regenerate, new trees sucker from the roots. An aspen stand with trunks interconnected by their roots is called a clone. The individual trees within a clone are not long-lived. Some begin to decline by about age 60. Few live to be more than 150 years old. But an aspen clone can be many thousands of years old, because it continues to regenerate itself by way of new suckers. THREATS TO ASPEN Stability and expansion of aspen stands can be thwarted by vegetation and by wildlife. Aspen clones are not shade tolerant. They do not compete well with ponderosa pines for sunlight and moisture. Wildlife can also pose a threat to aspen because aspen are a preferred food of elk. Elk browse aspen year-round, eating twigs, leaves, buds, suckers and bark. Some aspen stands
