A towering native, a cottonwood tree soars and spreads, growing more than 100 feet tall and almost as wide. Go to list of cultivars. Coarse sands and heavy clay soils are not satisfactory. Trees with multiple trunks are excluded. Cottonwood is the state tree of Kansas and Wyoming. It is dioecious; catkins bloom on separate male or female trees in March-April before leaves emerge. Cottonwood is a large tree growing primarily on alluvial soil and on other sites such as near water tanks, along irrigation ditches, dry washes, floodplains of major rivers, large perennial streams, springs, and in desert oases. The ends of the twigs are usually covered with a brown balsam-scented resin. Use enter to activate. It is native to eastern North America through the Midwest and Chicago region. eastern cottonwood This plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below.This plant may be known by one or more common names in … Our trees. Explore this online platform for Chicago-area residents to share their favorite stories about trees. Drought tolerant,  eastern cottonwood Salicaceae Populus deltoides W. Bartram ex Marshall symbol: PODE3 Leaf: Alternate, simple, pinnately veined, 3 to 6 inches long, triangular (deltoid) in shape with a crenate/serrate margin. The US national champion Populus deltoides var. Cottonwood trees get their name from the fluffy cotton-like seeds produced by the female tree. It is not uncommon for young trees to grow in excess of 6 feet in height each year. Eastern Cottonwood Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) is the fastest growing and largest tree found in Iowa. It grows best on moist well-drained sands or silts near streams, often in pure stands. Cottonwood makes its best growth on moist, well-drained, fine sandy loams or silt loams. The sight of cottonwoods in the distance was a sure sign of water to early settlers during their travels west. ex Marsh. Eastern cottonwood is one of the few hardwood species that is planted and grown specifically for these purposes. The 2 to 5 inch long, simple, triangle-shaped, deciduous leaves have a toothed margin, and an elongated tip. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters. Leaves are simple, opposite, large, and oval (almost heartshaped). Get expert help from The Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic. Alternate leaf arrangement. Eastern cottonwood is a large, fast-growing tree found growing along streams, rivers, and lowland areas. From top level menus, use escape to exit the menu. Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), one of the largest eastern hardwoods, is short-lived but the fastest-growing commercial forest species in North America. Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) is one of the largest North American hardwood trees, although the wood is rather soft. Female flowers are yellow. It grows on a variety of soil types but prefers moist, well-drained sands or silts along river bottoms. Eastern Cottonwood is the state tree of Kansas and Nebraska, and is sometimes called the pioneer of the prairie; pioneers on the Oregon Trail would look for such trees, as their shade and firewood was a welcome respite, and their presence usually meant that water was nearby. Common name: Eastern cottonwood Most photos on this page are of a tree in Naperville, Illinois, along the west branch of the DuPage River. Building the urban forest for 2050. Transplant easily, prefers wet soils in full sun, soil pH adaptable. Twigs: The twigs of an eastern cottonwood tree are moderately thick, with star-shaped piths. Easily grown in average, medium to wet, well-drained soils in full sun. Leaves are green in summer, turning yellow or brown in fall. Dioecious , male trees have dangling reddish catkins befor leaves appear. Borrowing the Spanish word for 'cottonwood,' the Mission San Antonio de Valero is commonly known as 'The Alamo' because of the presence of nearby cottonwood trees. Habitat and conservation: Occurs in moist lowlands near streams and rivers. Some mammals also use Eastern Cottonwood as a food source. It also thrives in floodplains and dry riverbeds, where infrequent rains transform dry land into waterways. The largest specimen in Iowa is over 11 feet in diameter, 80 feet tall and more than 85 feet in width. The bark of young trunks is similar to the pale greenish white color of other members of this genus. Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), one of the largest eastern hardwoods, is short-lived but the fastest-growing commercial forest species in North America. Extremely fast growing, making it weak-wooded and brittle. The Eastern Cottonwood, Populus deltoides, is one of the largest North American hardwood trees, although the wood is rather soft. It is a riparian zone tree which means it is mostly found in areas that form the interface between land and water bodies such as rivers or streams. use escape to move to top level menu parent. The north-south distribution extends from latitude 28 N. to 46 N. It is absent from the higher Appalachian areas and from much of Florida and the Gulf Coast except along rivers. The leaves of Populus deltoides are simple, alternate, toothed and broadly triangular. Natural Areas Conservation Training Program, Black walnut toxicity (plants tolerant of), Preventing construction damage to trees and shrubs, Trees and shrubs for the four seasons landscape, Sudden Oak Death, Ramorum Blight and Phytophthora ramorum, Eastern United States Wetlands Collection. The Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoids) dominates eastern North America, stretching from New Hampshire to the Dakotas and south down to Texas and northern Florida. Forestryimages.org provides several images of parts of Eastern cottonwood. The Morton Arboretum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on the generosity of members and donors. The female trees have fruit capsules packed with numerous, tufted seeds with silky white hairs, giving the appearance of cotton. Although cottonwood trees are really attractive and add to the appeal of their surroundings, their immense size makes them unsuitable for small yards. Leaf: Alternate, simple, pinnately veined, 3 to 6 inches long, triangular (deltoid) in shape with a crenate/serrate margin. bare cottonwood tree in the snow, yellowstone national park, unesco world heritage site, wyoming, united states of america, north america - eastern cottonwood tree stock pictures, royalty-free photos & … The eastern cottonwood is without a doubt, one of the largest hardwood trees found in North America. In the wild, cottonwood grows along rivers, ponds and other bodies of water. Read on for more cottonwood tree facts. Have tree and plant questions? Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), one of the largest eastern hardwoods, is short-lived but the fastest-growing commercial forest species in North America. deltoides is located in Beatrice, Nebraska and measures 27 m (88 ft) tall, 33 m (108 ft) wide. Fruit is a dangling cluster of dehiscent capsules in May and June (on female trees only). Eastern Cottonwood provides nesting habitat for such birds as the Pileated Woodpecker (cavities in large trees), Baltimore Oriole, Warbling Vireo, Northern Parula, and Yellow Warbler (young trees). Browse the curated collection and add your voice! Cottonwoods (Populus deltoids) are massive shade trees that grow naturally throughout the United States. Eastern cottonwood is also sometimes called southern cottonwood, Carolina poplar, eastern poplar, necklace poplar, and álamo. This plant has some cultivated varieties. (Dave Powell/USDA Forest Service/CC BY 3.0 us), (U.S. Geological Survey/Wikimedia Commons), (Bureau of Land Management/Wikimedia Commons), Cucumbertree, A Common Tree in North America, Mockernut Hickory, A Common Tree in North America, Black Locust, a Common Tree in North America, White Oak, A Common Tree in North America, Slippery Elm, A Common Tree in North America, Southern Red Oak, a Common Tree in North America, American Beech, a Common Tree in North America, Butternut, a Common Tree in North America, Black Oak, a Common Tree in North America, Scarlet Oak, A Top 100 Common Tree in North America, Willow Oak: Favorite Wildlife Food and Landscape Tree, B.S., Forest Resource Management, University of Georgia. Eastern cottonwoods are dioecious, meaning trees are either male or female. The leavesare alternate and simple, with coarsely toothed (crenate/serrate) edges, and subcordate at the base. Our future. The female trees can be messy, producing large quantities of seeds with white ‘fluff’ attached. It is often establishes in nearly pure pockets between levees and the main watercourse. Steve Nix is a natural resources consultant and a former forest resources analyst for the state of Alabama. These may either be gray or green in color. It occurs throughout the eastern United States and just into southern Canada. Mature trees produce an ash- gray, blocky, thick bark with deep furrows and ridges. These trees have been very important to the native people living in North America… This species is native to the Chicago region according to Swink and Wilhelm's Plants of the Chicago Region, with updates made according to current research. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. It grows best on moist well-drained sands or silts near streams, often in pure stands. There has also been interest in growing it for inclusion in cattle feed, since it is a good source of cellulose relatively free of undesirable components, such as tannins. Mature trees with thick bark may be only scarred or top-killed. Has a bitter aspirin taste. occidentalis, plains cottonwood, where the ranges overlap. State Champion eastern cottonwood tree at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area in Spanish Lake in May 2012. The eastern cottonwood is a large and fast growing tree Also called the necklace poplar, the eastern cottonwood tree grows throughout the central and eastern regions of the United States. The leaf petiole is 3 to 4 inches long and flatted. Altitude is a primary determiner of the western boundary. The following menu has 3 levels. The eastern cottonwood is a member of the willow family (Salicaceae). Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. The petiole is flattened and glands are present at the top of the petiole. Share your photo. Due to its large size, weak wood, and penetrating roots, it is best used on large properties away from residential areas. Each seed produces a bit of fluff to aid in wind dispersal. Their winter buds are enrobed in a protective, fragrant resin that coats young l… Swamp Cottonwood (P. heterophllya) grows through the southeast. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. Nebraska State Tree Eastern Cottonwood (Salicaceae Populus deltoides) Adopted in 1972. You can recognize them at a distance by their broad, white trunks. Fast-growing yet relatively short-lived, cottonwoods are easily distinguished by their triangular- (or deltoid-) shaped leaves that easily flutter in the wind. Deep planting permits reforesting of nonproductive fields with sandy soils having available moisture beneath a dry surface layer. It’s a cherished shade tree, often planted in parks. Fire generally kills eastern cottonwood. 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