Eastern Cottonwood
Populus deltoides
The rustling sound of its leaves is caused by their flattened petioles, which allow them to pivot in the slightest breeze to reduce wind resistance and cool the tree.
- Scientific name
- Populus deltoides
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Malpighiales › Salicaceae › Populus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Riparian zones, floodplains, river valleys, and moist lowlands.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthetic, requiring abundant water and direct sunlight).
- Range
- Eastern United States, Central United States, Southern Canada, Northeastern Mexico
- Size
- 20 to 40 meters (65 to 130 feet) tall, with trunk diameters up to 1.8 meters.
- Lifespan
- 70 to 100 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- River channelization and damming (which prevents the floods needed for seed germination), habitat clearing, and invasive species.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. Safe to approach and touch. Be cautious standing beneath mature trees during high winds, as their soft wood is prone to sudden limb breakage. If a branch falls and causes injury, seek medical attention immediately.
Populus deltoides , the eastern cottonwood or necklace poplar , is a cottonwood poplar native to North America, growing throughout the eastern, central, and southwestern United States, the southernmost part of eastern Canada, and northeastern Mexico. It is a eudicot.
Photo: Sandy Wolkenberg, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/e4c7e4d2-e0b1-438c-b16e-72d86640317d.md