Populus trichocarpa
Black cottonwood · also Western balsam-poplar, California poplar, Balsam poplar
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Populus trichocarpa is a deciduous broadleaf tree native to western North America, growing along watercourses. It features an upright crown, straight trunk with whitish fissured bark, and broad triangular leaves. It is notable for releasing cottony seeds in spring and is often found in coastal areas, making it suitable for certain urban plantings.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 1,2090.66%—19 in
- 1110.47%—37 in
- 1020.04%42 yr30 in
- 880.02%66 yr33 in
- 730.02%30 yr9.0 in
- 650.01%—5.0 in
- 190.04%——
- 60.00%—17 in
- 60.01%—32 in
- 50.03%—24 in
- 20.00%—8.7 in
- 20.00%—20 in
Traits
- Form
- Broadleaf
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Mature height
- 30–80 ft
- Canopy spread
- 25–30 ft
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Water needs
- Moderate
- Wildlife value
- Moderate
- Tolerates
- coastal, salt
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May
Trunk diameters across every city: median 20 in, mean 24 in, 90th percentile 46 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Temperate Conifer Forests
- Alberta-British Columbia foothills forests
- British Columbia coastal conifer forests
- Central British Columbia Mountain forests
- Central Pacific Northwest coastal forests
- Central-Southern Cascades Forests
- Northern California coastal forests
- Northern Pacific Alaskan coastal forests
- Northern Rockies conifer forests
- Sierra Nevada forests
Temperate Grasslands, Savannas & Shrublands
- Montana Valley and Foothill grasslands
Deserts & Xeric Shrublands
- Baja California desert
Other Populus in the catalogue
28 of the top 2,000 species are in this genus.
