Common Cottonwood Populus deltoides
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- POP-yoo-lus del-TOY-deez
- Description
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The common cottonwood is a large, fast-growing tree or shrub. This NC native plant is found at fine sandy loams or silt loams in stream banks of the piedmont and coastal plain. It grows tall as well, averaging 80-100 ft but potentially growing as high as 200 ft. It has yellowish twigs, coarsely toothed leaves, and gummy end buds that easily distinguish it from other species of poplar. Although pyramidal in youth, this tree/shrub will have a broad vase with open branches with age. The plant becomes ragged and irregular as it further grows. 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.
Plant in the full sun and moist, well-drained soil, preferably within 15-50 ft above stream level. It tolerates a wide range of soil pH, 4.5-8.0. and can withstand occasional flooding. It is an easy-to-transplant but short-lived, messy, brittle tree. 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 resistant to erosion and wet soil. It can be weedy as seedlings and produce copious root sprouts.
Insect problems include borers, aphids, caterpillars, and scale. Tree and shrub seedlings are not well managed by preemergence herbicides, and selective postemergence controls are not available. Hand pull seedlings when small.
Its wood is brittle, giving little value for lumber. It is harvested for the production of plywood, baskets, crates, and pulp, particularly for use in high-grade magazine paper.
VIDEO created by Grant L. Thompson for “Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines for Landscaping” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Noreaster'
Male. Defoliates early. - 'Purple Tower'
Dark red to purple leaves in full sun - 'Siouxland'
Male. Defoliates early
- 'Noreaster'
- 'Noreaster', 'Purple Tower', 'Siouxland'
- Tags:



















- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Noreaster'
Male. Defoliates early. - 'Purple Tower'
Dark red to purple leaves in full sun - 'Siouxland'
Male. Defoliates early
- 'Noreaster'
- 'Noreaster', 'Purple Tower', 'Siouxland'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Populus
- Species:
- deltoides
- Family:
- Salicaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Timber, pulp.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and central U.S.A., NC
- Distribution:
- Eastern and Midwest United States, Europe, South Africa, South America
- Wildlife Value:
- This is a larval host plant. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilo glaucus) has three flights from February-November in the deep south and March-September in the north. The Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) has two broods from April-October. Seedlings and young trees browsed by rabbits, deer, and domestic stock.; beavers use saplings and poles for food and dam construction.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 80 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 50 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Open
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- White
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is an elongated capsule, grown in clusters, with 3-4 valves and seeds surrounded by cotton-like hairs that facilitate wind and water dispersal.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Species is dioecious; males occur in 1 inch long catkins, females occur in a sparse yellow-flowered catkin. Male flowers are reddish and non-showy. Female flowers are green.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Deltoid
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Broadly triangular, ovate in outline, 3-6 inches long and 4-5 inches wide. The surface is dark green and lustrous with a paler and smoother underside. Margins have serrated teeth that are somewhat hooked. Petioles are flat.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Green
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Smooth
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Round
- Bark Description:
- Smooth and greenish-gray bark when young becoming ashy-gray and roughened by long, deep, longitudinal, and interconnecting furrows. Twigs are stout, rounded, and enlarged at the nodes.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The yellowish twigs, coarsely toothed leaves, and gummy end buds distinguish this tree from other poplars.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Messy
- Short-lived
- Weak Wood
- Weedy