Black Cottonwood

You have seen the black cottonwood if you have walked any riparian corridor in the Pacific Northwest. These fast-growing deciduous trees rise 120 feet along streams and river bottoms from coastal British Columbia to northern California, their fragrant spring growth unmistakable to anyone downwind. The scent and the cottony seeds that drift in early summer mark this tree as prolific, valuable to wildlife, but potentially troublesome in managed landscapes where its aggressive roots colonize wet ground.

Black cottonwood thrives in full sun with consistently moist, even waterlogged soil, preferring a pH near neutral. In the Puget Sound region, it grows well but demands space and vigilant management. Watch for cankers, root rots, and borers that thrive in its dense wood; the tree's rapid growth also means it sheds large branches readily. Its relatively short lifespan (90-150 years) means you will likely outlive specimens you plant today.