What is a Cottonwood Tree?
A cottonwood tree is a tree in the genus Populus. Three species of cottonwood tree are recognized in this genus, and these northern hemisphere natives can be found in a range of locations. Most commonly, cottonwoods are located in riparian zones near rivers and lakes, and they are sometimes used as an indicator species when people look for underground deposits of water. Cottonwoods are also grown as ornamentals, and some garden supply stores carry cottonwood seedlings for gardeners.
A cottonwood tree is a tree in the genus Populus. Three species of cottonwood tree are recognized in this genus, and these northern hemisphere natives can be found in a range of locations. Most commonly, cottonwoods are located in riparian zones near rivers and lakes, and they are sometimes used as an indicator species when people look for underground deposits of water. Cottonwoods are also grown as ornamentals, and some garden supply stores carry cottonwood seedlings for gardeners. Several features can be used to identify a cottonwood tree. The first is that, like other poplars, cottonwoods have leaves which appear to shimmer and shake in the wind, creating a very distinctive sound and visual appearance. Cottonwood leaves are triangular to diamond-like in shape, and they are a bright green on both sides, turning yellow and dropping in the fall and winter. The bark of cottonwoods is gray, and it tends to be deeply ridged and grooved. Cottonwoods produce hairy encapsulated fruit in dang
