Eastern Cottonwood

Populus deltoides

The Eastern Cottonwood is a tall tree with big, heart-shaped leaves that flutter in the wind. It grows near rivers and loves sunny places, making it a great home for many birds and animals.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Eastern Cottonwood has broad, triangular leaves that shimmer and clap in the wind, turning bright yellow in autumn. Its bark is smooth and greenish-gray when young, becoming deeply furrowed and dark gray with age. Fuzzy, cotton-like seeds disperse widely from its female trees.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderMalpighialesFamilySalicaceaeGenusPopulus

Eastern Cottonwood

Interesting facts

Beavers love to eat its bark and twigs, often using its wood for their dams and lodges!

It's one of the fastest-growing native hardwood trees in North America!

Its leaves famously create a distinctive rustling sound that Native Americans called 'the speaking tree'!

The inner bark was traditionally chewed for pain relief, acting like nature's aspirin!

Special abilities

Eastern Cottonwood can grow incredibly fast, sometimes over 3 feet a year, to quickly dominate open spaces.

Eastern Cottonwood has fluffy, wind-dispersed seeds that float like tiny parachutes to colonize new areas.

Eastern Cottonwood can grow deep, extensive roots that anchor it firmly and find water in riparian zones.

Measurements & details

Height: 2000-3500 cm
Spread: 1500-2500 cm
Flower Size: 5-12 cm
Bloom Season: Spring
Edible: Yes
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Wind

Ecological connections

eaten by

American Beaver

Castor canadensis

eats bark, twigs, and leaves

eaten by

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

browses twigs and leaves

shelters

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

nests in cavities and branches

shelters

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

builds hanging nests

Traits

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Broadleaf Tree

Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.

Rapid Growing

Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

Timber

Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry.

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.