eastern cottonwood
Populus deltoides
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Form
eastern cottonwood form eastern cottonwood form
Habitat
eastern cottonwood habitat eastern cottonwood habitat eastern cottonwood habitat
Leaves
eastern cottonwood leaves
Twigs
eastern cottonwood twig eastern cottonwood twigs eastern cottonwood twigs (bud) eastern cottonwood twigs (bud)
Bark
eastern cottonwood bark eastern cottonwood bark eastern cottonwood bark
Flowers
eastern cottonwood flowers (male) eastern cottonwood: male flowers eastern cottonwood flowers (male) eastern cottonwood male flowers eastern cottonwood male flowers eastern cottonwood flowers (male) eastern cottonwood male flowers eastern cottonwood flowers (male) eastern cottonwood flowers (male) eastern cottonwood flowers (female) eastern cottonwood flowers (female)
Fruit
eastern cottonwood fruit eastern cottonwood fruit eastern cottonwood fruit eastern cottonwood seeds eastern cottonwood seeds
  • FAMILY: SALICACEAE
  • ALTERNATE COMMON NAME:
  • LEAVES: alternate, simple, deciduous; deltoid shape, blunt teeth, crenate margin; flat petiole
  • FLOWER: dioecious; catkins; spring
  • FRUIT: capsules on drooping stalks, seeds 1-2 mm with cottony tuft; clogs window screens, banned by many cities
  • TWIGS: stout, brittle, angled, sometimes with ridges; large, resinous terminal buds
  • BARK: gray, deeply furrowed, with prominent ridges; can be confused with black walnut (rather embarrassing, however)
  • FORM: very large tree, over 100’ and 5’ diameter; very fast growing
  • HABITAT: floodplains, river margins, battures; grows best on well drained soils; moderate growth on upland sites
  • WETLAND DESIGNATION: Facultative (FAC): Occurs in wetlands or non-wetlands of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast Plain Region
  • RANGE: eastern US, except peninsular Florida
  • USES: pulp, pallets, low quality hardwood products; browse, bark, buds for deer, rabbits and beaver
    • Best Recognition Features:
    1. deltoid leaf with crenate margin
    2. flat petiole
    3. gray, furrowed bark

    NOTES: swamp cottonwood (Populus heterophylla) is a very similar tree; its range is roughly the same as Populus deltoides, but it is a medium-sized tree with leaves having a rounded or cordate base and round petioles
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