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| ## narrowleaf cottonwood {#narrowleaf-cottonwood .Title-Header}       |
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| *Populus angustifolia* James                                          |
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| Plant Symbol = POAN3                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center & the Biota of
North America Program

####### Alternate common names

Bitter cottonwood, willow cottonwood, willow-leaf cottonwood, mountain
cottonwood, Rydberg cottonwood, smooth-bark cottonwood

####### Uses

*Industry*: Wood of narrow-leaf cottonwood is susceptible to decay and
warps when cut into lumber. Because of this and its relative scarcity,
it is commercially unimportant -- used mostly for fenceposts and fuel,
less commonly for crating, boxes, pallets, plywood veneer, and pulpwood;
wood shavings are used for bedding, insulation, and animal food
supplements.

*Wildlife*: Narrow-leaf cottonwood provides habitat, cover, and food for
a diversity of wildlife. Common residents include squirrels, aquatic fur
bearers, bears, white-tailed deer, and many bird species. Twigs and
leaves are browsed by rabbits, deer, and moose and buds and catkins are
eaten by quail and grouse. Beaver cut all sizes of cottonwoods to build
and maintain lodges and dams and use the bark for immediate food or
storage in winter caches.

*Conservation*: Narrow-leaf cottonwood is planted as a fast-growing
ornamental tree in western US cities. These trees can be used at high
elevations and are useful in landscaping on deer winter ranges since
deer will not damage them through overbrowsing. The species was early
encountered (in1805) by the Lewis and Clark expedition, who observed
that horses would not eat it. ![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.59375in"
height="3.8958333333333335in"}

The aggressively spreading root system of narrow-leaf cottonwood makes
it useful for soil stabilization in erosion control and streambank
reclamation projects. This same feature, however, may be a liability in
urban areas where the roots may clog drains and sewers.

*Ethnobotanic*: Native Americans used young cottonwood shoots to make
baskets.

####### Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status
and wetland indicator values.

####### Description 

*General*: Willow Family (Salicaceae). Native trees up to 15-20 m tall,
single-stemmed with slender, upright branches forming a narrowly
spreading crown. The bark is yellowish green to grayish brown, smooth on
upper portions and furrowed into broad, flat ridges on older lower
portions. Leaves are deciduous, simple, alternate, lanceolate to
ovate-lanceolate, rounded at base, 5-9(-13) cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide,
hairless or nearly so, the margins glandular-toothed, dark green above
and slightly paler beneath, turning dull yellow in autumn, the petioles
less than 15 mm long, about 1/3 as long as the blade, flattened only
near the base. Flowers male (staminate) and female (pistillate), are on
separate trees (the species dioecious). Each type is borne in pendent
catkins, the female elongating to 6-8 cm long. Fruits are ovoid, pointed
capsules 6-8 mm long, splitting to release the seeds; seeds 2-3 mm long,
each with a tuft of long, white, silky hairs ("cotton"), easily blown by
the wind. The common name is in reference to the slender leaves.

*Variation within the species:* No variants have been recognized within
the species, but natural hybrids are frequent between narrow-leaf
cottonwood and other species:

balsam poplar (*P. balsamifera*) = *P.* x *brayshawii* Boivin
(Brayshaw's poplar);

eastern cottonwood (*P. deltoides*) = *P.* x *acuminata* Rydb.
(lanceleaf poplar);

Fremont cottonwood (*P. fremontii*) = *P.* x *hinckleyana* Correll.

####### Distribution

Narrow-leaf cottonwood occurs primarily in mountainous areas from
southern Alberta and Saskatchewan south to Oregon and California (east
of the Sierra Nevada), Arizona, New Mexico, and Trans-Pecos Texas and in
northern Mexico (northeastern Sonora). For current distribution, please
consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

####### Adaptation 

Narrow-leaf cottonwood grows along streambanks in dry mountains, desert
shrublands, and prairie grasslands and in coniferous forests with
willows and alders, at elevations of 900-2450 meters. It is commonly
found on narrow, periodically flooded benches adjacent to streams and
smaller rivers. Common associates are Douglas-fir, blue spruce,
ponderosa pine, Rocky Mountain juniper, maples, birches, alders, other
cottonwoods and aspen; in relatively undisturbed sites, the understory
often includes red-osier dogwood, chokecherry, serviceberry, willows,
and currants.

Narrow-leaf cottonwood is a pioneer that colonizes sandbars and other
fresh alluvium in areas of full sun. Such sites tend to become dominated
by a dense, closed canopy of cottonwood. Continual disturbances such as
flood and fire allow such communities to persist.

This species flowers in May, before or during leaf emergence and fruits
May-July, with seed dispersal in June-July.

####### Establishment

Flowering begins at about 15 years in narrow-leaf cottonwood. Male and
female trees must be grown in proximity if seed is desired. Large seed
crops are produced each year but seeds are viable for probably no more
than 3 weeks. They establish only if they land on unoccupied, wet, sandy
soil in full sun. Flood disturbance along waterways enhances seedling
recruitment, and periodic fires may serve the same purpose -- removing
competing conifers, allowing more light penetration, and exposing
mineral soil. Narrow-leaf cottonwood is a fast-growig but short-lived
species in natural conditions.

Narrow-leaf cottonwood reproduces vegetatively by sprouting from roots
and stumps.

####### Management

Because of its short period of viability, seed needs to be sown within a
few days of ripening in the spring. Otherwise they may be kept viable by
drying and storing cold in an airtight container. In a cold frame, sow
on the surface or lightly cover the seeds. Plant into permanent
positions either in late summer or the following spring, depending on
growth of the young plants.

Cuttings of twigs 20--45 cm long and 1-3 cm diameter of the current
season\'s growth, taken during the dormant season, can be placed in a
sheltered outdoor bed or directly into permanent positions. Initial
growth of un-rooted cuttings may not be as rapid as that of rooted
cuttings. Cuttings grown in a mist-propagator also root easily and
survive potting. Nursery- or container-grown seedlings and rooted
cuttings establish easily and grow rapidly on moist well-drained soils
in full sun. Growth may be minimal on wet soils and upland sites.

Beaver activities may inhibit cottonwood regeneration; seedlings and
saplings are stripped of bark for food and larger trees are cut for
building material. Poorly oxygenated water in stagnant ponds causes a
decline in health. Severe grazing by livestock, and associated trampling
of seedlings, reduces cottonwood regeneration potential.

The aggressive root systems can invade and damage drainage systems and
also may heavily draw available moisture from gardens and building
foundations, especially in clay soil. Root suckers also may be
considered a maintenance problem, and the profuse production of cottony
seed from female plants can be a minor nuisance.

Narrow-leaf cottonwood will produce stump sprouts and root suckers after
light to moderate intensity fires. Seedlings, saplings, and young trees
are damaged or killed by fire, but they develop more fire-resistant bark
after 15-20 years of age. Older trees may be killed by even relatively
cool fires, which wound trees and open the way to heartwood decay. Where
spruce is climax, periodic fire may contribute to the maintenance of
cottonwood stands, but mature bottomland hardwood stands will not
persist in the face of fire.

### Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

####### References

Eckenwalder, J.E. 1977*. North American cottonwoods Populus (Salicaceae)
of sections Abasco and Aigeros*. J. Arnold Arb. 58:193-207.

Eckenwalder, J.E. 1989. *Natural intersectional hybridization between
North American species of Populus (Salicaceae) in sections Aigeros and
Tacamahaca. II. Taxonomy*. Canad. J. Bot. 62:325-335.

Harris, H.T. 1989. *Populus angustifolia*. IN: W.C. Fischer (compiler).
*The fire effects information system* \[Data base\]. USDA, Forest
Service, Intermountain Research Station, Intermountain Fire Sciences
Laboratory, Missoula, Montana. SEP00.

Lanner, R.M. 1983. *Trees of the Great Basin: A natural history*. Univ.
of Nevada Press, Reno, Nevada.

####### Prepared By

*Guy Nesom*

Formerly BONAP, North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North
Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

####### Species Coordinator

*James Henson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Edited: 13nov00 jsp; 29may03 ahv; 060808 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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