# black cottonwood (*Populus trichocarpa*) The black cottonwood is a tall tree with fluffy, white seeds that float in the air like little clouds. It loves to grow near rivers and wetlands, providing shade and homes for many animals. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![black cottonwood](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Populus_trichocarpa_05897.JPG&width=800) Photo: CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Populus_trichocarpa_05897.JPG) ## Appearance The black cottonwood is a very tall tree with a straight trunk, often covered in dark, deeply furrowed bark. Its large, glossy green leaves are heart-shaped with silvery undersides, and in spring, it produces fluffy "cotton" seeds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malpighiales - **Family:** Salicaceae - **Genus:** Populus ## Interesting facts - Its dark, furrowed bark is a tell-tale sign of an old, wise tree! - Native American tribes used its inner bark and buds for food and medicine! - Some people call it a "pioneer tree" because it grows fast in new places! - Wow, its sticky buds smell like a spicy, sweet balsam! ## Special abilities - **Quick Sprout:** Black cottonwood can grow incredibly fast, helping it reach sunlight and outcompete other plants for space. - **Sticky Shield:** Black cottonwood has sticky, resinous buds that protect its tender new leaves from hungry insects and disease. - **Floating Seeds:** Black cottonwood produces tiny, cotton-covered seeds that catch the wind, helping them spread far and wide. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 3000-6000 cm - **Spread:** 1000-2000 cm - **Flower Size:** 5-20 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** North American Beaver (*Castor canadensis*) — Beavers cut down its trees for food and dam construction. - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Mule deer browse on its young twigs and tender foliage. - **Eaten by:** [Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid](https://www.snappit.app/explore/poplar-petiole-gall-aphid) (*Pemphigus populitransversus*) — Aphids create galls on leaf stems, feeding on the tree's sap. - **Shelter:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — Great Horned Owls often build nests in its tall, sturdy branches. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay away from the tree's branches and watch out for falling seeds when they are blowing in the wind. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify black cottonwood? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is black cottonwood? 3000-6000 cm ### How wide does black cottonwood spread? 1000-2000 cm ### How big are the flowers on black cottonwood? 5-20 cm ### When does black cottonwood bloom? Spring ### Is black cottonwood edible? Yes ### Is black cottonwood toxic? None ### What is black cottonwood's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/e-e-wilson-wildlife-area) — Oregon, US · Nature Reserve - [Fairhaven](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fairhaven) — Washington, US · Neighborhood - [Lake Missoula](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-missoula) — Montana, US · Natural Landmark - [Okanagan Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/okanagan-lake-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Sun-Oka Beach Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sun-oka-beach-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Bear Creek Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-creek-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see black cottonwood](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/black-cottonwood) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Black Cottonwood: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-cottonwood)