Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

Alamo, Carolina Poplar, Common Cottonwood, Cottonwood, Eastern Cottonwood, Eastern Poplar, Necklace Poplar, Plains Cottonwood, Poplar, Southern Poplar

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Eastern cottonwood is a fast-growing, short-lived commercial hardwood of America. It is known for its method of regeneration, where the fluff-covered seeds are dispersed by the wind and create the effect of ‘snow’ for a short period of time. The tree is cultivated for its lightweight wood to make a variety of furniture, plywood, and other wood products.

I. Appearance and Characteristics 

Populus deltoides, the eastern cottonwood or necklace poplar, is a species of cottonwood poplar native to North America, growing throughout the eastern, central, and southwestern United States as well as the southern Canadian prairies, the southernmost part of eastern Canada, and northeastern Mexico.

Populus deltoides is a large tree growing to 20–30 m (65–100 ft) tall and with a trunk up to 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) diameter, one of the largest North American hardwood trees. The bark is silvery-white, smooth or lightly fissured when young, becoming dark gray and deeply fissured on old trees.

The twigs are grayish-yellow and stout, with large triangular leaf scars. The winter buds are slender, pointed, 1–2 cm (1⁄2–3⁄4 in) long, yellowish brown, and resinous. It is one of the fastest growing trees in North America. In Mississippi River bottoms, height growth of 3–5 m (10–15 ft) per year for a few years has been seen. Sustained height growth of 1.5-meter (5 ft) height growth and 2.5-centimeter (1 in) diameter growth per year for 25 years is common.

The leaves are large, deltoid (triangular), 4–10 cm (1+1⁄2–4 in) long and 4–11 cm (1+1⁄2–4+1⁄4 in) broad with a truncated (flattened) base and a petiole 3–12 cm (1+1⁄4–4+3⁄4 in) long. The leaf is very coarsely toothed, the teeth are curved and gland tipped, and the petiole is flat; they are dark green in the summer and turn yellow in the fall (but many cottonwoods in dry locations drop their leaves early from the combination of drought and leaf rust, making their fall color dull or absent). Due to the flat stem of the leaf, the leaf has the tendency to shake from even the slightest breeze. This is one of the identifying characteristics.

It is dioecious, with the flowers (catkins) produced on single-sex trees in early spring. The male (pollen) catkins are reddish-purple and 8–10 cm (3+1⁄4–4 in) long; the female catkins are green, 7–13 cm (2+3⁄4–5 in) long at pollination, maturing 15–20 cm (6–7+3⁄4 in) long with several 6-to-15-millimeter (1⁄4-to-9⁄16-inch) seed capsules (samaras) in early summer, which split open to release the numerous small seeds attached to cotton-like strands. A single tree may release 40 million seeds a season.

Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

It needs bare soil and full sun for successful germination and establishment; in natural conditions, it usually grows near rivers, with mud banks left after floods providing ideal conditions for seedling germination; human soil cultivation has allowed it to increase its range away from such habitats.

Unlike related species such as quaking aspen, it does not propagate through clonal colonies, but will resprout readily when cut down.

The leaves serve as food for caterpillars of various Lepidoptera.

II. How to Grow and Care

Sunlight

Your cottonwood will fare best if you place the tree in a location that gets full sun throughout the day. One of the most appealing features of the species is its beautiful fall color, and good light will ensure you get that brilliant gold in the autumn you are hoping for.

Temperature and Humidity

While the tree can deal with a range of temperatures in its native USDA Hardiness Zones of 2-9, it is crucial to know that weather can affect the weak limbs of the tree through ice and wind damage, so good pruning is essential.

Watering

A Cottonwoods tree enjoys a good amount of water, especially while it is establishing itself. During the first few seasons, you will need to water your tree weekly, 10 gallons of water for each inch of the tree’s diameter, increase to 15 if it is in a dry location or a period of time experiencing little precipitation. After the first year or two, you can ween the tree from watering.

Soil

While your cottonwood prefers moist soil that drains well, it is great at adapting to the location it finds itself in once it has been established. If you can choose a location that isn’t usually soaked but has consistent moisture, the tree will be delighted, and so will you since you won’t have to worry about watering it as much.

Fertilizing

Eastern cottonwood does not require added fertilizer when they are well-established. Moreover, adding too much fertilizer can damage the roots and impact growth. When they are young, you can add NPK (16-4-8) fertilizer to boost their growth.

Pruning

Pruning your tree is the most important task you will perform. You will begin early in its life and continue till it grows until you need to use a ladder, at which time you should call in a certified arborist.

The two main tasks you attempt to do with your cottonwood are first to establish a single leader. One main trunk will be stronger than many offshoots, and two cut away any obviously weak, damaged, inward-pointing, or deeply crotched branches. Doing these tasks will help ensure that your cottonwood will keep strong branches and possibly keep you from costly damages after storms.

Pros and Cons of an Eastern Cottonwood Tree

Cottonwood trees are also one of the most valuable trees in the country for wildlife, providing food and shelter for countless species. Cottonwood grows eight feet per year in the right conditions. This rapid growth and its widespread allow it to create amazing shade and tremendously efficient windbreaks, which can result in lower energy usage for nearby structures.

This fast-growing tendency also kicks off the cons list for reasons to avoid this tree. Because the cottonwood grows so fast, the wood tends to be weak and brittle. This is bad news for places that get a lot of wind, ice, snow, and rain. Putting it in an area with property, people, or valuables and can create a hazard.

The cottonwood’s fondness for moisture and its shallow roots makes its roots seek out water pipes, sewer pipes, and septic systems. Planting it close to your home or any sidewalks could result in major repairs later.

Finally, they are known to cause a mess. Cottonwood trees are dioecious, which means springtime flowers are produced separately on females and males. Because of this trait, some towns have ordinances prohibiting the planting of cottonwoods, or specifically female cottonwood trees, which create fluffy white seed material (from which it gets its name) that covers the area, clogging window screens, air conditioners, creating poor air quality and coating swimming pools. The onslaught of the seeds also leads to profuse sprouting of unwanted cottonwoods in the area. Before planting one, check your local ordinances to see if the tree is even allowed.

When you weigh all the positives and negatives, if you still decide you want to include a cottonwood tree in your landscape design, you may want to search for a cultivar that doesn’t seed, like Populus deltoides ‘Siouxland’. These are not readily available at big box stores or even your friendly local nurseries, but you should be able to special order them or buy them online.

III. Uses and Benefits 

  • Ornamental uses

Eastern cottonwood is a medium-sized tree noted for its wide canopy, which makes it a good choice of shade tree, particularly in lawns and rain gardens. This tree grows fast, suiting ornamental use, and has attractive leaf colors in fall. Attracting bees and hummingbirds, eastern cottonwood makes for a good specimen tree, although its dense roots can be invasive. Good companion plants include creeping phlox, yew, and dwarf lilac.

  • Other uses

The wood of eastern cottonwood is typical of the Populus family in its softness, weighing just 0.45 g/cm3 (28 pounds per cubic foot). It is utilized for things like plywood and interior parts of furniture.

General Custer fed his horses and mules the bark during the 1868–69 winter campaign against Native American tribes south of Arkansas. According to Charles Goodnight, cowboys afflicted with gastric disorders would make an astringent tea from the inner bark.

Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) Details

Common name

Alamo, Carolina Poplar, Common Cottonwood, Cottonwood, Eastern Cottonwood, Eastern Poplar, Necklace Poplar, Plains Cottonwood, Poplar, Southern Poplar

Botanical name

Populus deltoides

Family

Salicaceae

Species

deltoides

Origin

Eastern, Central, Southwestern United States, Canada and Mexico

Life cycle

Plant type

Hardiness zone

, , , , , ,

Sunlight

Maintenance

Soil condition

Soil ph

Drainage

Growth rate

Spacing

more than 60 ft.

Harvest time

Flowering period

Height

75 ft. – 100 ft.

Width

75 ft. – 100 ft.

Flower color

,

Leaf color

Fruit color

,

Stem color

Gold, Yellow

Fruit type

Garden style

Uses

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