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Eastern cottonwood

How to identify Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

Eastern cottonwood, also known as Plains cottonwood

Eastern cottonwood is a towering deciduous tree reaching heights of 75 to 100 feet (23 to 30 meters), and potentially up to 200 feet (61 meters), with a broad vase-like silhouette upon maturity. Recognizable by its smooth, glossy, light to medium green triangular leaves, typically 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to 15.2 cm) long and up to 4 inches (10 cm) wide, this tree is adorned with coarse teeth along the margins. Its twigs are a distinctive yellow-green, and it bears elongated catkins. The bark, smooth and greenish-gray in youth, transforms into a brown or ashy gray with deep furrows over time. In spring, 2 to 4.5-inch (5 to 11.4 cm) catkins flourish, with male and female flowers distinguishable by red stamens and yellow stigmas. Subsequently, egg-shaped fruit capsules release seeds with fluffy white hairs, facilitating wind dispersal.

Lifespan

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type

Plant Type: Tree

Leaf Type

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Eastern cottonwood

1

Smooth, glossy triangular leaves with coarse teeth, 3-6 inches (7.6-15.2 cm) long and up to 4 inches (10 cm) wide.

2

Distinctive yellow-green twigs with elongated catkins measuring 2-4.5 inches (5-11.4 cm) in spring.

3

Male catkins with red stamens and female catkins with yellow stigmas and green ovary, blooming March-April.

4

Egg-shaped green capsules with cottony seeds, 0.31-0.47 inches (8-12 mm) long, for wind dispersal.

5

Transformative bark from smooth, greenish-gray to ashy gray with deep furrows, aiding in age identification.

Eastern cottonwoodEastern cottonwoodEastern cottonwoodEastern cottonwoodEastern cottonwood

Detailed Traits of Eastern cottonwood

Leaf Features

The leaves of eastern cottonwood are glossy, smooth, and light to medium green. They are deciduous, simple, alternate, and broadly triangular with acuminate tips. Measuring 3 to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 cm) long and up to 4 inches (10 cm) wide, the leaves have coarse dentate or crenate margins with curved teeth. Each leaf has 2 small glands near the base by the petiole, which is 2.5 to 4 inches (6 to 10 cm) long. In fall, the leaves turn yellow before dropping.

Leaf Shape

Deltoid

Eastern cottonwood Leaf Shape image
Leaf Apex

Acuminate

Eastern cottonwood Leaf Apex image
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Flower Features

The flowers of eastern cottonwood manifest as male and female catkins, measuring 2 to 4.5 inches (5 to 11 cm) in length. The male catkins display red stamens, while the female catkins feature yellow stigmas and a round green ovary. These catkins grow on separate male and female trees and bloom from March through April. The female catkin further develops into dehiscent capsules.

Eastern cottonwood Flower image
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Stem Features

The stem of eastern cottonwood features yellowish-green twigs that are stout, angular, and noticeably thick at the nodes. The terminal buds are 0.5 to 0.75 inches (1.3 to 1.9 cm) long, with 6 to 7 resinous or shiny scales in a chestnut brown hue. Lateral buds are smaller and closely appressed to the stem, making these features a key aspect for identification.

Eastern cottonwood Stem imageEastern cottonwood Stem image
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Fruit Features

The fruit of eastern cottonwood manifests as a green, egg-shaped capsule, measuring approximately 0.31 to 0.47 inches (8 to 12 mm) in length. Enclosed within the mature catkins, which span 7 to 10 inches (18 to 25 cm), the capsule features 3 to 4 valves. Upon maturation, these valves part to discharge an abundance of cottony seeds, each about 0.25 inches (6 mm) long, equipped for wind dispersal. The seeds’ tufted texture aids their journey through the air, ensuring successful propagation of eastern cottonwood.

Eastern cottonwood Fruit image
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Eastern cottonwood and Their Similar Plants

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Key Facts About Eastern cottonwood

Attributes of Eastern cottonwood
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Tree
Plant Height
20 m to 60 m
Spread
11 m to 18 m
Leaf Color
Green
Stem Color
Green
Yellow
Leaf type
Deciduous
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Scientific Classification of Eastern cottonwood

Family
Willow
Icon allow
Genus
Populus
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Species
Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
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Distribution Map of Eastern cottonwood

Eastern cottonwood is native from central and eastern Canada to Mexico. The introduction of this plant has occurred in many regions of Europe, some areas of South America, Africa, and South Korea. Eastern cottonwood loves damp soil, particularly next to riverbanks.
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
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