Cottonwood

Populus ×inopina

Native to:
United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Salicaceae
Genus:
Populus
Species:
Populus ×inopina
USDA Symbol:
POIN23

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Tree
Height:
2500 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
mar,apr,may

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, small mammals, beavers
Fragrant:
Yes
Fall Color:
yellow
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts vigorously from roots and stumps following fire or cutting.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
moist, well-drained sandy loam
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
good drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers riparian zones with periodic flooding

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
7–21 days
Notes:
Seeds are short-lived and require fresh sowing on moist soil; light required for germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).

Source: Claude AI