Populus heterophylla: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Lumber and wood pulp for paper
Plant Profile: Populus heterophylla
Taxonomy: Populus heterophyllaNames
Downy Poplar, Swamp Cottonwood, Swamp Poplar
Phonetic Spelling:POP-yoo-lus het-er-oh-FIL-uh
Genus:Populus
Species:heterophylla
Family:Salicaceae
The Swamp Cottonwood is a sizable deciduous tree belonging to the willow family, typically located in the Southeast's riparian zones and low-lying wetlands. Although it often exhibits a less-than-ideal shape, under optimal conditions, it can reach heights of 70 to 90 feet and develop a trunk diameter of 2 to 3 feet.
The tree's minuscule seeds require moist, sandy soil for germination, and their downy covering allows them to be dispersed over considerable distances by the wind.
The wood of the Swamp Cottonwood is soft and lightweight, making it suitable for crafting crates, baskets, and high-quality paper pulp. However, it is prone to warping during the drying process if not handled with care.
This species thrives in wet bottomland areas.
Populus heterophylla Feature Summary
Populus heterophylla Image Gallery
Tags
#deciduous
#native tree
#riparian
#wet sites
#small mammals
#moist soil
#NC native
#single trunk
#swamps
#native garden
#coastal plants
#Braham Arboretum
#deciduous tree
#wet soils tolerant
Similar Plants
Populus heterophylla Feature Summary
Attributes
Lumber and wood pulp for paper
Canada and SE U.S.A., NC
Occasional throughout E. North America
Seedlings and young trees browsed by rabbits, deer, and domestic stock
Woody
Wildlife Food Source
Fruit
Ovoid, green capsules that grow in clusters and turn brown when ripe. The seeds inside are small and downy. Seeds are hanging in catkins.
Capsule
Green
Brown/Copper
Edible
Spring
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Flowers
Species is dioecious; males occur in 1 inch long catkins, females occur in a sparse white flowered catkin.
White
< 1 inch
Leaves
Broadly ovate, serrated margin, heart-shaped base, 4 to 7 inches long, petiole round, green above and paler below.
Deciduous
Green
Gold/Yellow
Simple
Alternate
Ovate
Cordate
Obtuse
Serrate
Crenulate
> 6 inches
3-6 inches
Bark
Strongly vertically ridged.
Dark Gray
Light Gray
Dark Brown
Light Brown
Ridges
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Frequent Standing Water
more than 60 feet
Coastal
Sand
Stem
Brown/Copper
Straight
Heart or shield shaped
Enclosed in more than 2 scales
Landscape
Wet Soil
Riparian
Pond
Small Mammals
Short-lived
Populus heterophylla Image Gallery
Populus heterophylla Attributes
Populus heterophylla: Country Or Region Of Origin
Canada and SE U.S.A., NC
Populus heterophylla: Distribution
Occasional throughout E. North America
Populus heterophylla: Wildlife Value
Seedlings and young trees browsed by rabbits, deer, and domestic stock
Populus heterophylla: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Populus heterophylla: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Populus heterophylla Fruit
Populus heterophylla: Fruit Description
Ovoid, green capsules that grow in clusters and turn brown when ripe. The seeds inside are small and downy. Seeds are hanging in catkins.
Populus heterophylla: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Populus heterophylla: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Green
Populus heterophylla: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Populus heterophylla: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Populus heterophylla: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Populus heterophylla: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Populus heterophylla Flowers
Populus heterophylla: Flower Description
Species is dioecious; males occur in 1 inch long catkins, females occur in a sparse white flowered catkin.
Populus heterophylla: Flower Color
White
Populus heterophylla: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Populus heterophylla Leaves
Populus heterophylla: Leaf Description
Broadly ovate, serrated margin, heart-shaped base, 4 to 7 inches long, petiole round, green above and paler below.
Populus heterophylla: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Populus heterophylla: Leaf Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Populus heterophylla: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Populus heterophylla: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Populus heterophylla: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Populus heterophylla: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Populus heterophylla: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Populus heterophylla: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Populus heterophylla: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Populus heterophylla Bark
Populus heterophylla: Bark Description
Strongly vertically ridged.
Populus heterophylla: Bark Color
Dark Brown
Dark Gray
Light Brown
Light Gray
Populus heterophylla: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Populus heterophylla Whole Plant Traits
Populus heterophylla: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Populus heterophylla: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Populus heterophylla: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Populus heterophylla Cultural Conditions
Populus heterophylla: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Populus heterophylla: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Populus heterophylla: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Populus heterophylla: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Populus heterophylla: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Populus heterophylla Stem
Populus heterophylla: Stem Color
Brown/Copper
Populus heterophylla: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Populus heterophylla: Stem Form
Straight
Zig Zags
Populus heterophylla: Stem Leaf Scar Shape
C-shaped, Cresent shaped
Encircles a bud
Heart or shield shaped
Round
Populus heterophylla: Stem Bud Scales
Enclosed in 2 scales
Enclosed in a single cap like scale
Enclosed in more than 2 scales
No scales, covered in hair
Populus heterophylla Landscape
Populus heterophylla: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Populus heterophylla: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Populus heterophylla: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Populus heterophylla: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
