American cottonwood

American eastern cottonwood is one of many true poplars, such as aspen, but requires expertise to use successfully.

Latin Name

Populus deltoides

Other Common Names

eastern cottonwood, eastern poplar

American_cottonwood_big

Forest Distribution

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American eastern cottonwood trees are fast growing and the largest of this genus grows widely across the USA and is normally associated with water. They can be up to 8 feet in diameter. Cottonwood may be referred to as white poplar and should not be confused with tulipwood, known as yellow poplar in the USA. 

FOREST GROWTH

FIA data shows U.S. cottonwood growing stock is 236 million m3, 1.5% of total U.S. hardwood growing stock. U.S. cottonwood is growing 4.3 million m3 per year while the harvest is 1.8 million m3 per year. The net volume (after harvest) is increasing 2.6 million m3 each year. American cottonwood growth exceeds harvest in all the main producing states except Maine (where it is mainly planted in urban areas), Nebraska and Texas. Cottonwoods are declining in some semi-arid areas of the U.S. due to drought, invasion of exotic species and overgrazing. 

Alabama : 1,407,680 m³ Arkansas : 4,721,900 m³ Arizona : 1,487,960 m³ California : 2,993,470 m³ Colorado : 4,508,920 m³ Connecticut : 969,920 m³ Washington DC : 0 m³ Delaware : 0 m³ Florida : 36,500 m³ Georgia : 259,920 m³ Iowa : 9,916,320 m³ Idaho : 3,781,000 m³ Illinois : 11,996,170 m³ Indiana : 12,078,130 m³ Kansas : 11,625,080 m³ Kentucky : 2,581,520 m³ Louisiana : 1,740,420 m³ Massachusetts : 177,560 m³ Maryland : 694,800 m³ Maine : 2,277,740 m³ Michigan : 15,863,660 m³ Minnesota : 16,677,940 m³ Missouri : 8,517,650 m³ Mississippi : 4,617,760 m³ Montana : 9,734,970 m³ North Carolina : 1,208,350 m³ North Dakota : 5,395,130 m³ Nebraska : 17,264,440 m³ New Hampshire : 138,380 m³ New Jersey : 132,920 m³ New Mexico : 1,705,700 m³ Nevada : 192,940 m³ New York : 6,266,980 m³ Ohio : 6,305,920 m³ Oklahoma : 4,648,750 m³ Oregon : 4,654,640 m³ Pennsylvania : 1,789,730 m³ Rhode Island : 0 m³ South Carolina : 1,835,980 m³ South Dakota : 3,068,980 m³ Tennessee : 1,839,260 m³ Texas : 1,835,920 m³ Utah : 1,828,850 m³ Virginia : 48,850 m³ Vermont : 700,720 m³ Washington : 19,657,140 m³ Wisconsin : 3,676,480 m³ West Virginia : 0 m³ Wyoming : 4,335,400 m³ 0-3K 3K-6K 6K-9K 9K-12K 12K-15K 15K-18K > 18K Volume of live trees on forest land, 1000 m³ 0 200K All data derives from The Forest Inventory and Analysis Database developed in 2001, a component of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.Data was compiled by AHEC in May 2020 using the most recent state inventory available (2018 for most states).“Forest volume” refers to “Net volume of live trees on forest land" as defined by FIA (see glossary). FIA forest volume data is available for 49 U.S. states (Hawaii and Washington D.C. are omitted) with total commercially significant hardwood forest volume of 14.6 billionWith the 2008 Farm Bill, every US State was tasked to prepare a Forest Action Plan by 2010, reviewed in 2015, to include comprehensiveassessment of forest condition and a strategy for sustainable forestry. Further details are available from theNational Association of State Foresters
Back to whole mainland U.S. 0-20K 20K-40K 40K-60K 60K-80K 80K-100K 100K-120K > 120K Volume of live trees on forest land, 1000 m³ 0 200K
-15K -10K -5K 0 5K 10K 15K 20K 25K GROWTH AND REMOVALS, 1000 m³ -10K -9K -8K -7K -6K -5K -4K -3K -2K -1K 0 1K 2K 3K 4K 5K 6K 7K 8K 9K 10K GROWTH AND REMOVALS, 1000 m³ -2000 -1750 -1500 -1250 -1000 -750 -500 -250 0 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 GROWTH AND REMOVALS, 1000 m³ -300 -200 -100 0 100 200 300 400 500 GROWTH AND REMOVALS, 1000 m³ Removals 0 Growth 0 Net growth 0
0 200K 400K 600K 800K 1M 1.2M FOREST VOLUME, 1000 m³ 0 40K 80K 120K 160K 200K 240K 280K 320K 360K 400K 440K FOREST VOLUME, 1000 m³ 0 10K 20K 30K 40K 50K 60K 70K 80K 100K FOREST VOLUME, 1000 m³ 0 4K 8K 12K 16K 20K FOREST VOLUME, 1000 m³ Forest volume 0

LCA Tool

6.94
seconds
it takes 14.57 seconds to grow 1m³ of American cottonwood
The replacement rate is calculated from total U.S. annual increment of the specified hardwood species derived from the U.S. Forest Service Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program and assumes that 2 m³ of logs is harvested to produce 1 m³ of lumber (i.e. 50% conversion efficiency). The rapid rate of replacement is due to the very large volume of hardwood trees in U.S. forest.

Global Warming Potential (Kg CO2 -eq)

03000-30006000-6000

Primary Energy Demand from Resources (MJ)

04000-40008000-8000

Primary Energy Demand from Renewables (MJ)

020000-2000040000-40000

Acidification Potential (Moles of H+ eq.)

03-36-6

Freshwater Eutrophication Potential (Kg P -eq)

00.002-0.0020.004-0.004

Marine Eutrophication Potential (Kg N -eq)

00.05-0.050.1-0.1

Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential (Kg NMVOC)

04-48-8

Resource Depletion (Kg Sb -eq.)

00.0003-0.00030.0006-0.0006
Key
Forestry
Drying
Sawmill
Transport Forest-Kiln
Transport Kiln-Customer
Carbon uptake
Global Warming PotentialPrimary Energy Demand from ResourcesPrimary Energy Demand from RenewablesAcidification PotentialFreshwater Eutrophication PotentialMarine Eutrophication PotentialPhotochemical Ozone Creation PotentialResource Depletion
UnitKg CO2 -eqMJMJMoles of H+ eq.Kg P -eqKg N -eqKg NMVOCKg Sb -eq.
Forestry		/368132000.398/0.0004740.5010.00000287
Drying		34.25165380.1910.0002820.009111.350.0000219
Sawmill		-16795626600.3040.0001880.006190.2170.00026
Transport Forest-Kiln		66.491914.80.3060.0004680.00780.3840.0000402
Transport Kiln-Customer		183245036.92.540.000910.04622.020.000103
Carbon uptake		-2990///////
Total-28705210164003.740.001850.06984.470.000428

Material Availability

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American cottonwood is available as sawn lumber and veneer but may only be available in limited volumes of export specifications, determined by current export demand. Cottonwood lumber is mainly available from southern producers predominantly in 4/4” (25.4mm) and 5/4” (32mm), where it needs to be processed quickly when freshly cut (green) to avoid checking and blue staining.    

Wood Description

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Cottonwood is a porous wood with a coarse texture. It is generally straight grained with relatively few defects. The sap is white, but may contain brown streaks. The heartwood is pale to light brown. 

Mechanical Properties

The wood of cottonwood is relatively lightweight and soft. It is weak in bending and compression as well as shock resistance. Cottonwood has no taste or odour when dry.

  • 0.4

    Specific Gravity (12% M.C.)

    449 kg/m3

    Average Weight (12% M.C.)

    11.30%

    Average Volume Shrinkage (Green to 6% M.C.)

    58.608 MPa

    Modulus of Rupture

    9,466 MPa

    Modulus of Elasticity

    33.854 MPa

    Compressive strength (parallel to grain)

    1,913 N

    Hardness

Oiled / Un-Oiled Appearance

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Oiled
cottonwood_oiled
Un-oiled
cottonwood_unoiled

Performance

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  • Cottonwood presents some machining challenges, which can be overcome. The wood may produce a fuzzy or woolly surface when cut, so it is essential to use sharp blades set at the correct angle to avoid this problem. Otherwise it glues and screws well without splitting. It dries easily but with a tendency to warp, with small movement in performance.

     
  • The wood is non-resistant to decay. 

Main Uses

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Traditionally used for venetian blinds, American cottonwood is used for furniture, especially reproduction furniture and furniture parts. Other uses include internal joinery and mouldings.

Mouldings
Furniture
Cabinets