Lanceleaf Cottonwood is a naturally occurring hybrid tree in the willow (Salicaceae) family native to the floodplains and streams in the Rocky Mountain region growing at elevations of between 4,500-8,500 feet. It is a naturally occurring cross between the Eastern Cottonwood Populus deltoides and the Narrowleaf Cottonwood Populous angustifolia. It is commonly planted as a shade tree in the four corners region of the United States. As this tree typically grows in riparian areas it requires frequent supplemental water in a landscape. Frequent pruning to remove weak branches, cleaning up seeds and fallen leaves add to the maintenance tasks for this tree. It also sends out shallow roots with suckers that can damage sidewalks or driveways. Its seeds are white and fluffy and dispersed in the wind. They resemble cotton, hence the common name Cottonwood. " Acuminata " is Latin for pointed and refers to the leaf shape and and " Populous " means people. In its native habitat is provides many wildlife benefits but being native to the west, this tree will not do well in the hot humid southeastern USA. See native alternatives to the left. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Borers, aphids, scales, and thrips are insect problems. Cytospora canker, slime flux, anthracnose, crown rot, and sooty mold are disease problems. It has shallow roots, suckers easily, and has prolific fluffy seeds that spread far and wide making it weedy. It is also susceptible to limb breakage.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasional Flooding | Occasionally Wet
Available space
24-60 feet
Mature size
Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in. | Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Oval; Pyramidal
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Sinuate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2-4 inch ovate leaves, long petioles that flatten near the blade. The leaf margins are like waves or sinuate. Yellow fall color.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower form
Catkin; Insignificant
Fruit color
Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
The seed capsules of the female produce silky white hairs when they split open
Bark color
Green; Light Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
Smooth and light yellow-green when young, becoming shallowly furrowed on older trunks
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Green
Stem detail
Round smooth twigs are yellow-green when young and light gray when older. Terminal bud 1/4" to 3/4" long, sharp-pointed, resinous and aromatic, covered by brown overlapping scales.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Western Canada to Mexico
Wildlife value
Supports cavity-nesting birds, is a host for butterflies and provides browsing for deer, beavers and rodents.
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Riparian
Design feature
Shade Tree
Garden tags
#shade tree #riparian #wind dispersed seeds #fast growing #fall color yellow #messy #weak wood #high maintenance #weedy #deciduous tree #flood tolerant #wet soil #wind break