Trees to 18 m tall; bark gray, slightly pruinose. Branchlets slender. Petiole slender; leaf blade ovate, 2-7 × 1-9 cm, abaxially pale, glabrous, base cuneate, serrate, apex acuminate; veins raised abaxially. Male catkin ca. 3 cm. Female catkin 10-17 cm, loose; rachis and stipes pubescent; bracts lobed, long pilose, caducous; flowers green, shortly stipitate.

V. L. Komarov (Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 13: 233. 1914) supposed this species to be a hybrid between Populus przewalskii and P. tremula.

* Nei Mongol (Alxa Youqi, Alxa Zuoqi)