Eastern cottonwood
Populus deltoides
Salicaceae


Landscape Uses:

Large specimen or shade tree.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Rarely grown by native plant nurseries.
Description:
Large deciduous tree 90-100 feet tall with deeply furrowed grayish bark. Leaves 2-6 inches long, often copper colored when first unfolding.
Height:
Typically 90 feet in height, as broad as tall.
Growth Rate:
Fast.
Range:
Throughout the United States and in Florida from Escambia county through the panhandle and along the western coast to Hernando county. For a digitized image of Elbert Little's Florida range map, visit the Exploring Florida website.
Habitats:
Floodplain forests and swamps.
Soils:
Moist to wet, moderately well-drained to poorly-drained organic or sandy soils, often with acid pH.
Nutritional Requirements:
High; requires rich organic soils for optimal growth.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
Flower Characteristics:
Inconspicuous flower on conspicuous catkins 2-3 inches long.
Flowering Season:
Early spring
Fruit:
Tiny capsule.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Horticultural Notes:
Comments:
We are currently adding data for this species for central and northern Florida. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page.