Cottonwoods are in the plant family Salicaceae. They are fast-growing, weak-wooded tree that lacks ornamental flowers and fruits. These trees prefer more moist soils and can grow up to 70 - 90 feet tall. Wind-pollinated flowers usually appear in the spring before the leaves unfold from March to May. The cotton-ball appearance of the groups of seeds is responsible for its name Cottonwood.
The easiest way to identify Cottonwoods is by their blocky, ashy-gray bark, which is often extremely thick. The leaves are broad and slightly triangular. In summer, they will display cotton seeds.
Cottonwoods often get a bad rep. They were listed on Oklahoma’s five most-hated trees! This is because of the weak-wooded tree and the mess of the cotton seeds. These trees are prone to broken limbs during storms and produce cotton seeds in the summer. The seeds are blown from the wind and fall like snowflakes making a large distribution of white cotton fluff on the ground surrounding the tree.
In Oliver Woods, you will recognize that the bigger trees on the trail are Cottonwood trees. Also you will see evidence of it being a weak-wooded tree. On the trail, a Cottonwood is laying on its side. It's not hard to miss because of its massive structure. Cottonwoods might not be the strongest trees but they sure are beautiful. Their massive frames make them stand out from other trees. Cottonwoods are beautiful trees that can be seen all throughout these woods.
written by Elise Wall, OU Environmental Studies student
April 2023
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