Cottonwood grows very rapidly and is North Dakota's largest tree. It is used in shelterbelts and windbreaks, but not recommended for residential plantings. Siouxland cottonwood is a South Dakota selection with resistance to leaf rust. Numerous hybrid poplars have been introduced. Check with knowledgeable authorities for recommendations.
Twigs are slender, reddish-brown, smooth.
Bark of the tree is yellowish-green, often marked with dark blotches. Not recommended for shelter plantings. Twigs are reddish to dark brown, the terminal bud long, slender pointed, covered with a fragrant resin. Tree bark is greenish to brown on young trees, gray to grayish black and fissured on older trees. A native tree of eastern and northern areas of the state.