Post 27
Eastern Cottonwood
Populus deltoides
LocationN39º28.883'
W088º24.786' |
Date PlantedVolunteer that descended from old Cottonwood Tree
that grew on the east lawn of Riddle Elementary School Trimmed to a tree 6-2008. |
Special Note:
Eastern Cottonwoods typically live 70 to 100 years, but they have the potential to live 200 to 400 years if they have a good growing environment. Calling the Cottonwood Tree "The Pioneer of the Prairie", the Kansas State Legislature designated the Cottonwood Tree the official state tree of Kansas in 1937.
This tree was descended from an old Cottonwood Tree that blew down in a storm and is no longer standing at Riddle Elementary School.
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Tree DescriptionVery tall tree with large trunk 3 to 4 feet in diameter, and many stout branches; crown open, spreading. When growing in the open, often forks near the base into 2 to 6 trunks; grows to a height of 100 feet.
HabitatPrefers moist soils; often found near streams, often in pure stands or with willows.
RangeEastern U.S. above Florida and below Vermont, in the foothills of the Rockies, and from southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
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Leaf DescriptionSimple, deciduous; alternate; long, triangular, with flat base and long pointed tip; 3 to 7 inches long and 3 to 5 inches wide with curved, coarse teeth; thick and coarsely veined; bright green above, paler beneath, with yellow midrib.
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Bark DescriptionAshy gray; furrowed or ridged on mature trees, smooth and greenish yellow on young trees (and new branches).
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Fruit DescriptionSmall, green, flask-shaped, elliptical capsules, 0.375 inches long, hang from branches in long, narrow clusters up to 8 inches long and, when mature in spring, divide and split open to release many tiny, dark brown seeds, each attached to a tuft of cottony hairs.
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