Quick answer: Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) is native to 14 states. What's commonly sold under this name is the true wild species. No live listing of the true species was found as of 14 Sep 2026.
Photo: Wil540 art, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)
Where it's native
Listed in the register as native to these states. Click a state for its full native-plant guide.
Growing conditions
From the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database.
| Sun | Sun, Part Shade, Shade |
|---|---|
| Water | High water, Dry-Wet |
| Soil | Sandy, sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam, clay, circumneutral pH |
| Bloom | Bloom Feb-Apr |
| Height | Up to 180 ft, often shorter |
| Wildlife value | Larval host for Mourning Cloak/Red-spotted Purple/Viceroy/Tiger Swallowtail, seeds for granivorous birds |
none noted formally; page notes roots can be invasive (infrastructure sense) and female trees produce nuisance cottony seed clouds
Buying it
No live listing of the true wild species was found as of 14 Sep 2026 — that means our last search didn't surface one, not that the plant is unavailable.
No live seed or plant listing found as of 14 Sep 2026. That means our last search didn't surface one — not that the plant is unavailable. Try a regional native-plant nursery.
Also listed under
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