Populus trichocarpa

Identification

Description

A deciduous tree, fast to 100'. Native from San Diego County to Alaska. There seems to be two distinct forms (as different as Sambucus species or Dendromecon species that are split) of this. Part shade to sun, moisture, should not be planted near plumbing. One form is native next to the coast. I've seen it a quarter mile from the ocean where the salt spray had blown the top off. Inland a little in another spot where the wind could not get to it it grew into a magical 80' tree, straight as an arrow up into the sky. Its dark green leaves contrasting beautifully with its white trunk. This tree will become more drought tolerant when it is established but I've seen both forms only in creeks in the wild. Excellent bird and butterfly plant. Very, very fast. We have a tree house 20' up in one that is 10 years old. It has a 12" trunk at chest height and is 30-40' tall. [RIP in assoc. with CSRC, CHAP, FMAR,NCS, MIX][C][YR][pH 4-7] The Sierra forms are high elevation trees that look like a cross between a willow and a quaking aspen. Sunset 1-6, USDA 3-5. The leaves are narrower and a distinctly different shade of green. Out of it zone in the nursery the plants are stable but very slow. We are getting at best, @1 ft. of growth per yer, at worst none. (Also if you are in Reno you want the high one and if you are in L.A. you want the low one. One form needs winter temperatures.) The coastal form grows 3-6'/year in a gallon pot, the Sierra form grows 2 inches. [RIP in assoc. with YEL, FIR] . An excellent shade tree. Keep away from septic system. Do not plant under power lines. Cottonwoods are important bird and butterfly plants. Cottonwoods are amongst the water shunt plants of nature. Use them next to a water source(such as a lawn) to shunt water to the rest of you planting. Cottonwoods will get very shallow roots if you water shallowly. If you put one next to a lawn do not water the lawn daily (you shouldn't anyway), strech the watering out to once a week or so or you will have a bumpy lawn (from the roots).