# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 28 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Eastern Cottonwood](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Populus_deltoides_SCA-03469.jpg&width=800) Photo: R. A. Nonenmacher, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Populus_deltoides_SCA-03469.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malpighiales - **Family:** Salicaceae - **Genus:** Populus ## 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 - **Rapid Growth Spurt:** Eastern Cottonwood can grow incredibly fast, sometimes over 3 feet a year, to quickly dominate open spaces. - **Cotton Cloud Traveler:** Eastern Cottonwood has fluffy, wind-dispersed seeds that float like tiny parachutes to colonize new areas. - **Water Seeker Roots:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-beaver) (*Castor canadensis*) — eats bark, twigs, and leaves - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses twigs and leaves - **Shelter:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — nests in cavities and branches - **Shelter:** [Baltimore Oriole](https://www.snappit.app/explore/baltimore-oriole) (*Icterus galbula*) — builds hanging nests ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [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. - [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. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay away from the tree's branches and watch for falling leaves. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern 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 Eastern Cottonwood? 2000-3500 cm ### How wide does Eastern Cottonwood spread? 1500-2500 cm ### How big are the flowers on Eastern Cottonwood? 5-12 cm ### When does Eastern Cottonwood bloom? Spring ### Is Eastern Cottonwood edible? Yes ### Is Eastern Cottonwood toxic? None ### What is Eastern Cottonwood's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Capen-Clark Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capen-clark-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Chestnut Street District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chestnut-street-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [Clinton Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clinton-hill-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Falls Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/falls-park) — South Dakota, US · Park - [Glen Haven](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glen-haven) — Michigan, US · Historic District [View all places to see Eastern Cottonwood](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eastern-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: [Eastern Cottonwood: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottonwood)