Eastern Cottonwood
Populus deltoides 
Cottonwood is one of the largest and fastest growing of the eastern hardwoods. It makes its best growth on deep, moist bottomland soils. The wood is used for boxes, crates, furniture and pulpwood. Cottonwood is short-lived but serves an important function by stabilizing new sandbars and bare flood plains.
Identifying Characteristics
- Height
- 90 ft
- Spread
- 90 ft
- Leaves
- alternate, simple, 3" - 6" long; triangular in shape, edges have round teeth, shiny dark green above, paler below; leaf stalk long and flattened
- Flowers
- male and female flowers on separate trees; flowers in a catkin
- Fruit
- long hanging clusters of green capsules containing cottony seed
- Bark
- light greenish-yellow on young stems; older bark light gray, very thick, divided by deep fissures
- Associated species
- silver maple, bur oak, river birch, green ash, hackberry
- Ideal site conditions
- wet soil, full sun
- Value to man
- wood products, erosion
- Value to wildlife
- dens, food
- Growth Rate
- fast
- Range
