Common Cottonwood Populus deltoides

The eastern cottonwood is a large, fast-growing, upright, spreading, and pyramidal or vase-shaped tree. It is a member of the Salicaceae or willow family. It grows to a height of 75 to 100 feet and potentially grows as high as 200 feet. Although pyramidal in youth, this tree will have a broad vase with open branches with age. The tree has yellowish twigs, light to medium green, triangular shaped, coarsely toothed leaves, and gummy-ended buds that easily distinguish it from other species of poplar. Catkins emerge in the spring before the leaves. During the summer, seed capsules of the female catkin appear. When the capsules split open the seeds appear with silky white hairs that are then dispersed by the wind.

The eastern cottonwood is native to the eastern, central, and southwestern United States as well as portions of Canada and Mexico. It typically grows along streams, river banks, and bottomlands. This native plant is found in fine sandy loams or silt loams of stream banks of the Piedmont and Coastal Plains of North Carolina.

The genus name, Populus, is derived from the Latin name for this tree. The epithet, deltoides, refers to the triangular or deltoid leaf shape that is similar to the Greek letter delta. The common name of cottonwood comes from the appearance of their seeds that have hairs resembling cotton. The common name, Necklace Poplar, references the long narrow seed capsules that look like a string of beads.

Plant in the full sun and moist, well-drained soil, preferably within 15 to 50 feet above stream level.  It tolerates a wide range of soil pH, from 4.5 to 8.0, and can withstand occasional flooding. This tree is resistant to erosion and wet soil. It is easy to transplant, but it is messy, weedy, and has brittle wood. It can be weedy as seedlings, and it produces copious root sprouts. It is intolerant to shade and relatively short-lived, up to 70 years, and can deteriorate rapidly

It attracts some small mammals, birds, and butterflies. The seedlings and young trees are frequently browsed by deer and rabbits.  

Its wood is brittle, giving little value to lumber. It is harvested for the production of plywood, baskets, crates, and pulp, particularly for use in high-grade magazine paper.

This plant may be used as a specimen or a shade tree, but it is not recommended as an ornamental. It is a poor tree selection for the home landscape or urban areas because of it is messy, weedy, and brittle. The roots may also cause damage to sidewalks or sewer lines. It may be best to leave this tree to its native habitats. 

Season of Interest:

Bark:  Winter   Bloom:  Spring           Foliage:  Summer and Fall        Fruits:  Summer

Quick ID Hints:

• bark is smooth, thin, greenish gray on young branches
• with age, the bark becomes brown to ashy gray with ridges, fissures, and furrows 
• twigs are yellowish-green, terminal buds are 3/4 inches long with 6 to 7 scales, lateral buds smaller and appressed
• leaves are light to medium green, smooth, glossy, alternate, simple, triangular, 3 to 6 inches long and up to 4 inches wide, base flat across, margins dentate to crenate, and pointed tips
• flowers are male and female catkins, 2 to 4.5 inches long, the male has red stamens, and the female has yellow stigmas and round green ovary
• fruits are green, egg-shaped capsules on a long catkin, the capsule splits into 3 or 4 parts and releases cotton-like seeds

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insect problems include borers, aphids, caterpillars, and scales. The eastern cottonwood is susceptible to dieback, canker, leaf spots, rust, and powdery mildew. Tree and shrub seedlings are not well managed by preemergence herbicides, and selective postemergence controls are not available. Hand-pull seedlings are required when they are small.

 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.