Eggcorn Forum

The “lombardy poplar,” a tall, columnar, fast-growing deciduous tree, was developed by unnatural selection in sixteenth century Italy. This visually striking tree was soon in demand for estate plantings all over Italy. In the eighteenth century fans of Italian oils began to notice these poplars in the landscapes of Caravaggio and other late Renaissance painters. They began to import Populus nigra italica into France and England, hoping to reproduce the mystique of the Italian landscape. So the more temperate regions of Europe got their poplars. Lombardies remained a foreign tree to much of North America, however, until the late nineteenth century, when a cultivar appeared that was crossed with a cold-hardy black poplar. Soon straight rows of these exotics were popping up (literally–some varieties can grow six feet a year) all over the continent. About a mile from my house in Metchosin, BC, is a short road called “Lombard Drive.” It was named after two rows of lombardy poplars that were planted here a hundred years ago. An historical plaque commemorates the trees, most of which are still living.

One of the quickest ways to start a spitting match between landscapers is to mention lombardy poplars. Many plant professionals warn their clients away from them. In the warmer, drier regions of North America the trees do not remain attractive for long. And if their water-seeking roots find your septic system you can look forward to large repair bills. When older lombardy poplars turn ugly, they only look like they are dying. They can be harder to kill than the hydra-fragments of root left in the ground will sprout year after year.

Still, people plant them. The garden writer David Beaulieu comments: “Although Lombardy poplars are despised by landscaping professionals, they nonetheless remain a very popular tree with the general public.”

“Popular” is the right term for these trees. “Poplar,” after all, is not a well-known English word. Our native trees in the same family, the cottonwoods and aspens, are not generally referred to as “poplars.” The belief that the exotic varieties are called “popular trees” is widespread. I’ve heard it myself. The web has hundreds of examples of this eggcorn, three of which are given below.

Examples:

A blog entry “I grew up in a Gas Station. My Dad planted two types of trees, a weeping willow and several popular trees, behind our Phillips 66 station. It took along time for the weeping willow to grow but the popular trees sprouted up really fast. It reminds me of life.”

A comment on an art site “i looove poplar trees, i’ve a friend who when a child thought they were ‘ popular ’ trees lol they stand so beautiful and tall against the sky, like sentinels”

Web site for a Georgia farm “The trees were so close to the house that in the summer we could see the Kudzu, Jasmine and Popular trees grow before our eye.”

Last edited by kem (2009-09-12 09:01:00)