Populus × jackii Sarg. = P. candicans Aiton, Balm-of-Gilead

Introduced, neophyte, deliberately planted, a rare garden cultivar.

1947; MCM & D; roadside by cut-over bog, SW of Lisnaskea.

Again only a female clone is known of this taxon in B & I, a species or hybrid of obscure and disputed origin. Stace et al. (2015) believe it is P. deltoides Marshall × P. balsamifera L. Whatever its parentage, it is supposed to have been introduced to these islands from America about 1773 (Sell & Murrell 2018). P. × jackii (= P. candicans or P. × candicans) (Balm-of-Gilead) has a strong balsamic smell similar to P. trichocarpa Torr. & Gray ex Hook. (Western Balsam-poplar), but it tends to produce suckers prolifically. Partly for this reason, but also because it suffers extremely badly from a bacterial canker, this plant is no longer popular in gardens (Meikle 1984).

A huge-leaved, white, cream, pale green and pink variegated form of the plant, usually called P. × candicans 'Aurora' in the horticultural trade, is vastly over-popular, however, and is very common in gardens throughout N Ireland. It too is extremely susceptible to canker, and therefore does not survive very long (More & White 2003).

The three widely separated Fermanagh records of P. candicans in the Fermanagh Flora Database were found planted in damp ground on roadsides near habitation. The details of the other two records are: Cargin Lough, 20 August 1986, L.W. Austin & A.S. McMullin; farm east of Melly's Rocks, near Lough Navar Forest Park, 14 July 2001, RHN.