Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

Family: Willow (Salicaceae)

Common Names: Southern cottonwood, Carolina poplar, Wastern poplar, Necklace poplar, Prarie cottonwood and Alamo.

The Cottonwood is a type of poplar. Like all poplars, it is fast-growing. The trees are almost as massive as Sycamores in terms of girth and broad-spreading canopy. Average tree height is 80 to 100 feet.

The sapwood is white and may contain brown streaks while the heartwood may be pale to light brown. It is a diffuse porous wood with a coarse texture. The wood is generally straight-grained and contains relatively few defects. The wood is soft, weak in bending and compression, and low in shock resistance.

Cottonwood is relatively light in weight. The wood is soft, weak in bending and compression, and low in shock resistance. Machinability is only fair. Tension wood is frequently present and can cause a fuzzy surface when cut, which in turn requires additional care when finishing. Cottonwood glues well and has good resistance to splitting when nailing and screwing. It dries easily but has a tendency to warp after drying. It is relatively dimensionally stable.

Click to Enlarge Image

Cottonwood burl dining table by Lumberjocks. Used to make furniture (primarly as the secondary wood for drawers, etc.), some millwork and mouldings, and kitchen utensils. Also used in boxes, crates, baskets, and plates. Specialized uses are Venetian blinds and shutters. If used as a primary wood, it is typically painted.