Populus deltoides W. Bartram ex Marshall

Eastern Cottonwood

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Eastern Cottonwood is a large native deciduous tree in the Willow family (Salicaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Eastern Cottonwood occurs on floodplains, in swamp forests, and in disturbed wet areas. It is a large tree reaching 150-180 feet in height and 11 feet in diameter. The bark is smooth and green or tan in color on young stems and deeply furrowed and light gray in color on the trunk. The branches are glabrous or slightly pubescent and 5-angled when young. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, triangular-ovate in outline, glabrous, with serrate margins. The petiole is flattened near the base. Flowers are produced in axillary pendulous catkins before the leaves emerge. The male flowers have 30-40 yellowish stamens. The female flower has an ovary disc that is saucer-shaped and 2-4 plate-like stigmas. The fruit is a capsule. The seed have a tuff of white fibers and are wind dispersed. Eastern Cottonwood is one of the fastest growing trees in eastern North America and can grow in excess of 20 feet/year. It is sometimes cultivated as a shade tree and is grown in plantations for pulp production.—A. Diamond

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Native FAC+ (NWPL)

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