There are more than one kind of Cottonwood tree; therefore, it depends on where you live. It is easy to recognize in the summer when the female cottonwood tree dispenses seeds attached to white fiber type fluffs that resembles cotton. Description. The sight of cottonwoods in the distance was a sure sign of water to early settlers during their travels west. How can you tell the difference between a male and a female cottonwood tree when they're saplings? The bark, which is usually harvested in the fall after a tree's death, is generally very soft and easy to carve. The Black Cottonwood or Swamp Poplar grows primarily East of the Mississippi River in the USA, it grows in wet sites often submerged in flood plains and edges of swamps. If your yearly temperatures average between 50 and 55 degrees F. (10-13 degrees C.), you might be able to grow swamp cottonwood trees. Deciduous trees are uncommon in the temperate rain forests of Alaska, and are represented mainly by red alder and black cottonwood. RE: Cottonwood Trees? Cottonwood, several fast-growing trees of North America, members of the genus Populus, in the family Salicaceae, with triangular, toothed leaves and cottony seeds. The cottonwood tree is indigenous to North America, where it is commonly seen growing along riverbanks and streams. Eastern cottonwood is a large, fast-growing tree found growing along streams, rivers, and lowland areas. Native to various parts of North America, these trees grow well in different growing conditions and have a long lifespan, so you can enjoy their shade for years to come. Trees can out-grow a small yard in no time at all, see photos. This makes areas near rivers, lakes, and marshes ideal for their growth, and don’t require much care to thrive. Cottonwood is one of the poorest wood fuels; it does not dry well, and rots quickly. Bark: The heartwood of this tree is deeper brown than that of Fremont cottonwood but the sapwood is white. The bark is apparently fire-proof. Cottonwood trees grow at a fast speed. I've heard cottonwood trees grow fast. On older trees, the bark is thick, deeply furrowed, reddish brown. The bark is apparently fire-proof. Rio Grande Cottonwood Leaves. Cottonwood trees grow at a fast speed. The lightweight, rather soft wood is used primarily for core stock in manufacturing furniture and for pulpwood. Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), one of the largest eastern hardwoods, is short-lived but the fastest-growing commercial forest species in North America. Rio Grande Cottonwood Tree. We live in Texas and just moved into a new home with no trees. A cottonwood tree is a tree in the genus Populus. Many homeowners looking for large shade trees opt to plant cottonwood (Populus deltoides), which can live 100 years and grow more than 65 feet tall. They most often grow on the heavy clay soil, but they do best in deep, moist soils. Populus deltoides is a large tree growing to 20–60 m (65–195 ft) tall and with a trunk up to 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) diameter, one of the largest North American hardwood trees. The Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) is a large evergreen coniferous tree growing to 150-200 feet tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 8 feet. are hardy from U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 11, depending on the species. Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), one of the largest eastern hardwoods, is short-lived but the fastest-growing commercial forest species in North America. Swamp cottonwood also requires an appropriate temperature range. We need you to answer this question! What kind of soil do swamp cottonwood trees prefer? They are best grown in soil that is sandy or silty in nature, with intermediate drainage capability. Borrowing the Spanish word for 'cottonwood,' the Mission San Antonio de Valero is commonly known as 'The Alamo' because of the presence of nearby cottonwood trees. Redwood trees are softwood. The bark is silvery-white, smooth or lightly fissured when young, becoming dark gray and deeply fissured on old trees.