Description
Scientific Name: Populus deltoides
Zone: 2–9 Find Your Growing Zone
Mature Height: 70–100 ft (occasionally over 120 ft)
Mature Width: 50–75 ft
Fruit: Small capsules containing numerous tiny seeds attached to silky, cotton-like hairs that aid wind dispersal
Flowers: Male and female flowers on separate trees (dioecious), appearing as drooping catkins before leaf-out
Bloom Time: March to April
Growth Rate: Very fast — up to 5–8 ft per year under optimal conditions
Soil: Moist, well-drained, alluvial soils preferred; tolerates clay and sand
Drought Tolerance: Low to moderate — prefers consistent moisture
Flood Tolerance: High — thrives in periodically flooded bottomlands and riverbanks
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Fall Color: Yellow
Wildlife Value: Provides nesting habitat for large birds; twigs and bark browsed by deer, beavers, and rabbits; cottony seeds dispersed by wind provide cover for insects and nesting material for birds.
