Cottonwood, Narrowleaf - Populus angustifolia

A small to medium tree to 18 meters (60 feet) tall with a narrow cone shaped crown; bark is smooth, thin, yellowish-green when young becoming thicker at base of older trees and shallowly fissured with broad flat ridges; branches are strong, slender, upright, yellowish-green when young becoming bright to dark orange by fall and turning pale-gray in subsequent years; leaves are alternate, deciduous, simple, lance shaped, broadest near middle, tapering to pointed tip, fine toothed along edges, thin and papery, bright yellow-green above and paler below; flowers, male and females on separate trees in dense catkins; fruit is a two part egg-shaped capsule containing hair brown seeds. Habitat is generally at mid elevations along streams with large amount of coarse substrates such as gravel and cobbles where watertable commonly drops below 40 in later in the growing season. These sites are commonly flooded in spring and are typically excessively drained with low waterholding capabilities that allow rapid movement of highly aerated groundwater.

Greenhouse asexual propagation by seed is difficult because the seed is very small and short-lived (most references indicated the seed is viable for 24 to 48 hours). Planting by seed requires surface broadcasting with no cover and extended surface moisture to ensure seedlings do not dry out.

Field propagation of this species is relatively easily. They can be propagated with dormant unrooted hardwood cuttings. Ensure the base is placed into permanent moist zone. Recommendations are that the cutting be long and tapering. Cut off the top 0.6 to 0.94 meters (2 to 3 feet) to enhance rooting. Remove by rubbing with a glove all but the top 4 to 5 buds. This will result in tree-like growth rather than shrub-like growth.

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Last Modified: 07/05/2007