Narrowleaf Cottonwood
Populus angustifolia
- Native to:
- Canada, Mexico, United States
Stan Shebs
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Salicaceae
- Genus:
- Populus
- Species:
- Populus angustifolia
- USDA Symbol:
- POAN3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 3000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, beavers
- Fall Color:
- yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Can resprout from roots after fire; often colonizes burned riparian areas.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained sandy loam
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found along riverbanks and floodplains
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification for 60-90 days; sow in moist soil in full sun.
Pre-treatment: For seeds, no stratification is required and they should be sown immediately after cleaning. For cuttings, they should be stuck to a depth of 10 cm in a 2:1:1 peat:perlite:vermiculite mixture with a controlled release fertilizer 14-14-14 (N-P-K) 3 - 4 month incorporated at the rate of 4 kg/m3.
Establishment: The most critical factor in the collection of viable Populus seed is frequent observation of catkin development. It's preferable to wait until the capsules are almost fully open, but spring winds can disperse the seed very quickly once the capsules reach this stage and much seed can be lost instantly. For cuttings, the earlier they are taken (late February through March) the longer they can be stored before bud burst occurs during storage. Once bud burst occurs, rooting success declines quickly.
Source: npn.rngr.net
Where to Buy
Nationwide Seller
- Sheffield's Seed (seeds)