Bud exudate of Populus deltoides clones originating from six central and eastern American states was examined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and the components were identified. The principal components of the bud exudate were the flavone galangin, the flavanone pinocembrin and the flavanonol pinobanksin, together with the related compounds pinocembrin chalcone, pinobanksin methyl ether and pinobanksin-3-acetate. The bud exudate composition was very different from that seen in a North American poplar of the section Tacamahaca, P. balsamifera. The bud exudates from all P. deltoides specimens were similar excepting that from Vermont.