What Does Cottonwood Bark Look Like?

The cottonwood tree is a member of the willow family. Several types grow wild in different parts of the United States, with the bark's appearance depending on the species.

Thickness

Cottonwood has some of the thickest bark of all the North American trees. One species, the plains cottonwood, has bark that is nearly 6 inches thick that will actually peel off in long sections when a large branch falls off the tree.

Age

The age of a cottonwood tree often dictates how the bark looks. For instance, the young eastern cottonwoods have a green-yellow smooth bark but the older trees have dark bark with deep distinct furrows and obvious raised ridges.

Color

The black cottonwood of the Pacific Northwest region gets its name from the dark gray to almost black color of its bark on the mature specimens.

Swamp Cottonwood

Swamp cottonwood has bark best described as shaggy, with a reddish-brown color.

Cottony Seeds

Cottonwoods get their name not from having a soft texture to the wood but from their seeds. They develop on short thin stems and when they open, they fly through the air, attached to a small cotton-like tuft of hair controlled by the breeze.

References

• Plains Cottonwood:Earthlink
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources:Eastern Cottonwood
• "Field Guide to Trees of North America;" C. Frank Brockman; 1986