Everything to Know About Nebraska’s State Tree, the Eastern Cottonwood

The Eastern Cottonwood is Nebraska’s state tree. It is a hardwood tree native to the central, southwestern, and eastern regions of the United States. European settlers and Native Americans relied on its lightweight characteristics to build homes and barns. The 1972 legislature formalized the title and replaced the American elm which had held the title since 1932. The replacement was due to the spread of Dutch Elm Disease and its impact on the local Elm population.

Everything to Know About Nebraska’s State Tree – the Eastern Cottonwood

The Physical Characteristics of the Eastern Cottonwood Populus Deltoides

Foliage

The Eastern Cottonwood’s foliage features sail–like leaves with flat, elongated stems. It tends to flutter and tremble in the breeze. The leaf is coarsely toothed, with a glandular tip and flat petiole. It is dark green in the summer before turning to fall colors of orange to gold.

Trunk & Bark

The Eastern Cottonwood tree features a thick bark. It’s a fire-resistant tree, which benefits the region since the sweeping wildfires in 2022 ruined much of its natural landscape. The tree also experiences branch drop in high winds.

Flower and Seeds

The catkin flowers appear on asexual trees in the early spring. During the early summer, the seed capsules open and release seeds attached to cotton-like strands that give the tree its moniker.

Longevity

Most Eastern Cottonwoods have lifespans of 70 to 100 years but can survive up to 400 years in the right environment.

Ecological Facts

Most Cottonwood groves appear close to water sources like rivers and streams in Nebraska. The mature trees can consume up to 200 gallons per day during the summer. During periods of low rainfall, the Cottonwood may drop its leaves to conserve water sources. If cut, it will bleed water for many days until the wound heals.

The Eastern Cottonwood and Its Impact on the Ecosystem

The Eastern Cottonwood provides sustenance for livestock, rabbits, and deer, which feed off the tree’s bark and leaves. Many songbirds and gamebirds will roost and court in the tree. Squirrels and bees will nest in the fallen branches as the heartwood rots in the landscape.

As a pioneer tree species, the Cottonwood grows on a floodplain site or stream bank, contributing to more biodiversity in the Nebraskan ecosystem. These trees prefer full sun and moist, well-drained soil, but are tolerant to dry sites and wet areas with occasional flooding.

American pioneers utilized Cottonwood’s leaves for herbal tea and animal fodder, the wood for crafts and fires, and the canopy for shelter. Cottonwood can cause allergies in pollen-sensitive individuals.

The Eastern Cottonwood stands at about 100 feet or more, with a growth rate of about 5 feet per year. This tree provides shade across the Nebraskan landscape.

Cottonwoods require space and should not grow next to homes. They are a fast-growing tree with an extensive root structure. Roots grow close to the surface and can lift foundations and driveways.

After maturation, Cottonwood is a hardy tree, and resistant to pests and disease. While many insects dine on the leaves, they rarely cause damage to the tree.

Additional Facts About the Eastern Cottonwood

The Eastern Cottonwood is a relatively drought-resistant tree, making it ideal for surviving the Nebraskan climate. Native Americans used Cottonwood trees to manufacture lodge poles and start fires. Legend says that the shape of the teepee is an homage to the shape of the Cottonwood leaves.

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