Botanical Name: Populus trichocarpa
Common Name: Black cottonwood
Type of Plant: dicot: tree
Character deciduous
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape an erect, mostly single-trunked tree which becomes both tall and broadly spreading with age; canopy is oval or pyramidal in youth, eventually rounded at maturity; gray, furrowed bark with age
Height 30-60'(150')
Spread 1/2-2/3
Growth Rate rapid
 
Environment:
Exposure outdoors full sun preferred; tolerates partial
Soil sandy, fast-draining moist soils preferred; tolerates most
Hardiness hardy (zones 1-7, 8-21); thrives in hot interior valleys
 
Morphology:
Leaves pinnate, alternate (somewhat crowded at branch tips); ovate 2-5" long, with finely serrate margin; apex somewhat acuminate
Flowers plants are dioecious: male catkins 2-3" long, falling early; female catkins 2-4" long, hanging on branch
Fruit cottony seed masses, released from female trees
 
Propagation:
seed (stratify); hardwood cuttings
 
Usage:
a large, fast-growing shade tree for warm locations; has a very invasive root system - avoid using in small areas; suckers develop from roots in heavy soils; best for rustic, informal landscapes
 
Landscape Care:
Watering likes regular, deep watering; plants can be kept much smaller if given only an occasional soaking
Fertilizing little is needed after established
Pruning head high and develop scaffold structure; head back & thin
Pests/Diseases bark-boring and wood-boring beetles; termites; leaf miners
Special Conditions/Other
 
Origin: Western United States
Family: Salicaceae

Notes:
 
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