Plant Description
Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides): A Fast-Growing Giant
Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree native to eastern, central, and southwestern North America, including parts of Canada and Mexico. This species typically grows 75 to 100 feet tall, with some specimens reaching heights of up to 200 feet. It is known for its upright, pyramidal, or vase-shaped form, coarsely toothed triangular leaves, and gummy end buds. Thriving in moist, well-drained soils near streams and rivers, it plays a vital role in stabilizing riverbanks and providing wildlife habitat (Missouri Botanical Garden).
While its lightweight wood is too brittle for high-grade lumber, it is valued for manufacturing plywood, crates, baskets, and pulp used in high-grade magazine paper. In New Jersey, Eastern Cottonwood is often seen along riverbanks and floodplains, but its aggressive root system and brittle branches can make it unsuitable for urban landscapes (USDA Forest Service, Gardenia).
