Populus deltoides

Populus deltoids, commonly called common cottonwood is a large, fast-growing tree or shrub.  Plant in the full sun, it tolerates a wide range of soil pH and can withstand occasional flooding. It can be weedy as seedlings and produce copious root sprouts. Leaves are triangular, with serrated margins and flattened petioles.  Although pyramidal in youth, this tree/shrub will have a broad vase with open branches with age.  The plant becomes ragged and irregular.  The seed capsules of the female produce silky white hairs when they split open.  The common name of cottonwood comes from the appearance of these hairs, which resemble cotton.

It is an easy to transplant, short-lived, messy tree.  Its wood is brittle, giving little value. It is harvested for the production of plywood, crates, and pulp.  It is typically found growing along streams and rivers but also naturalized areas, woodlands, lawns, or rain gardens. This plant may be used as a specimen or a shade tree. It attracts some small mammals and is resistance to erosion and wet soil.

Tree and shrub seedlings are not well managed by preemergence herbicides, and selective postemergence controls are not available. Hand pull seedlings when small.

This plant is found at fine sandy loams or silt loams, resistant to flooding and tolerant of 4.5-8.0 pH.

Insect problems include borers, aphids, caterpillars and scale. 

It has yellowish twigs, coarsely toothed leaves, and gummy end buds.  These characteristics are unique to this tree vs other varieties of poplar.

The female flowers are followed by capsules that split when ripe with seeds that disperse silky-white hairs giving the common name of Cottonwood its origin.