Key to Poplars and Willows
in New Zealand

'Weraiti'

• 0. Poplar or Willow?
• Looks like a poplar -> Poplar - 1. Crown shape
• Narrow crown (or uncertain) -> 2. Bark
• Bark is rough -> 4. Bark and form
• Bark coarsely ribbed, ribs not parallel. Apical dominance, often with a heavy asymmetrical branch(es), leaves with green upper surface, light green lower surface, leaves hang down from stem -> 6. P. x euramericana hybrids
• Narrow-medium crown, relatively broad trunk, large roots near the soil surface, bark deeply ribbed, leaves susceptible to rust -> 'Weraiti'

Populus deltoides x P. nigra NZ 5018

‘Weraiti’ is a P. x euramericana hybrid, resulting from a 1980 NZ cross between P. deltoides and P. nigra ‘Italica’. It was first released commercially in 1996.

Identification

‘Weraiti’ leaves are similar in shape to ‘Veronese’ with a straight base and a slightly undulating leaf margin. The leaves are dark green above and light green below.

‘Weraiti’ has a narrow-medium sized crown with excellent leader dominance, a heavy stem and occasionally a few heavy branches. ‘Weraiti’ is female.

Typical uses, site requirements, pest and disease resistance

‘Weraiti’ is suitable for soil conservation and timber production, particularly in eastern regions. It has good wind and drought tolerance and can be used in the lower slopes, below ‘Argyle’ and ‘Veronese’.

‘Weraiti’ is susceptible to rust and possums, but less so than varieties ‘Dudley’ and ‘Selwyn’.

Performance in trials

Growth rates of ‘Weraiti’ rank alongside ‘Argyle’ as the highest of the 1980 series of P. x euramericana hybrids. In a Wairarapa trial (ann. rainfall 850 mm), ‘Weraiti’ at age 12 had an average diameter (dbh) of 36 cm (c.f. ‘Argyle’ 37 cm, ‘Kawa’ 27 cm). However it was the tallest variety, with an average height of 17.9 m (c.f. ‘Argyle’ 16.3 m, ‘Kawa’ 15.4 m). At age 12 in Manawatu (ann. rainfall 1200 mm) and at age 13 in Otago (ann. rainfall 600 mm), ‘Weraiti’ dbh averaged 26 cm and 24 cm respectively.

‘Weraiti’ is performing well in established Canterbury, Manawatu, Hawkes Bay and Auckland trials, however it is significantly slower growing than the P. maximowiczii x P. nigra hybrids and ‘Shinsei’ in the wetter climate of Te Kuiti (ann. rainfall 1500 mm).