Populus yunnanensis, commonly known as the Yunnan poplar, is a fast-growing deciduous tree native to the mountainous regions of Yunnan in southwest China. Populus yunnanensis has features with a straight trunk and a broad, oval to rounded crown. The species features glossy, deep green, ovate leaves that turn golden-yellow in autumn, and like other poplars, it bears catkin flowers in spring, which are not ornamental. It often thrives  along waterways or in fertile alluvial soils. Populus yunnanensis is widely used for shelterbelt planting, erosion control, timber production, and large-scale landscaping, valued for its rapid establishment and adaptability.