Cottonwood, Black
Populus trichocarpa
Salicaceae - Willow
Description
Leaves: Alternate; simple; ovate to ovate-lanceolate; rounded base and angled; 3" to 6" long, 3" to 4" wide; deciduous; acute to acuminate apex; rounded base; finely serrate margin; dark green above, paler beneath; petiole round, slender, long.
Twigs/buds: Yellowish to red-brown, moderately slender, round to angled. Buds resinous, sticky, and fragrant in spring.
Flowers/fruit: Flowers are catkins; 1-1/2" to 3-1/4" long. Fruit is a capsule borne in catkins; capsules are almost ball-shaped, hairy, 3-parted when mature, and approximately 1/3" long.
Bark: Grayish-green to yellowish-gray and smooth early on; darker gray-brown with ridges and furrows when mature.
Wood: Heartwood light-brown to grayish-white; sapwood whitish; relatively straight-grained and uniform-textured; odorless when dried, shrinkage moderately high; soft, relatively weak and brittle, branch structure also weak; fuzzy surface (tension wood) makes it hard to work with; difficult to split; used for wood pulp, boxes, crates, containers, implements, woodenware, barrels, trunks, and drawers.
General: Some sources show this as native to extreme northern Utah; at any rate uncommon.
Landscape Use: Not planted and no cultivars available. Zones 3-8.
Comments & Limitations: Weak wood and/or branch structure. Prefers abundant water.
Characteristics
General
Family | Salicaceae - Willow |
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Cultivar Availability | No |
Hardiness Zone | 3-8 |
Type | Broadleaf |
Utah Native | Yes |
Growth
Growth Rate | High |
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Mature Height | High |
Longevity | High |
Is Good Under Power Lines | No |
Crown Shapes | Oval |
Ornamental
Bark | No |
---|---|
Fall Color | Yes |
Flowers | No |
Foliage | No |
Fruit | No |
Tolerance
Shade | Low |
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Salt | High |
Drought | Low |
Poor Drainage | High |
Alkalinity | High |
Transplanting | High |