(VIDEO) All About Cottonwood Trees

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In this post Julie and Kevin introduce you to one of their favorite wild neighbors, the cottonwood tree. Learn about the species and get a recipe for using the buds.

Watch the video, Wild Neighbor: Cottonwood, on YouTube.

Meet the Cottonwood Tree

Cottonwood trees can be found all over the world. Cottonwoods are in the family called Salicaceae, which includes willows and poplars. Where we live in the Pacific Northwest, the native tree most commonly seen is the Black Cottonwood. It’s latin name is Populus trichocarpa. They are considered the largest species of cottonwood in the world, topping out around 150 feet tall.

Cottonwoods get their common name from the fluffy white material that clings to the tiny seeds. In the springtime the area around a cottonwood grove can look like drifts of snow or soap suds. Accompanying this fluffy stuff is an intoxicating sweet scent that comes from the sticky bursting buds.

Cottonwood Trees in the Landscape

Identification

Cottonwood trees are deciduous hardwoods, meaning they lose their leaves in the fall. They can be identified in any season by their grey and furrowed bark. Cottonwood leaves are very large and somewhat heart-shaped.

Ecology

Cottonwood trees love water. They can often be found growing near rivers or wetlands. On our homestead they can be found growing near a wetland area. 

Wildlife

Cottonwood trees are great for wildlife. They provide food and cover for many species. They tend to hold a lot of water and get heart-rot and form snags, which provide cavities for nesting birds like woodpeckers. Bees have been known to use the sticky resin inside their hives to prevent decay. They have even used it to protect the hive from intruders such as mice. 

Uses for Cottonwood Trees

Traditional Uses

Native people in our area (including the Coast Salish and Snoqualmie) have used the cottonwood since time immemorial for many purposes. These include using the buds to make medicines that treat lung issues as well as to treat the pain and infections that come with cuts. 

Commercial Uses

Many people think of cottonwood trees as a nuisance due to their relatively short lives and the tendency to drop big limbs. They are often also mistaken for causing allergic reactions in the spring. Cottonwood is considered valuable though in making plywood and paper, as it’s pulp is lightweight and the strong fibers mesh together well. 

Harvesting Cottonwood Buds

When to Harvest

Late winter is a great time to harvest cottonwood buds. They are just starting to swell but have not opened or become too sticky yet. After a big storm is a great time to go searching. This is the moment where what some people find annoying (broken limbs) becomes a treasure for others (easy access to buds that would otherwise go to waste).

Ethical Harvest

If you are harvesting from a live tree, be considerate and use ethical harvesting practices. The general rule is to leave more than you take. We usually only harvest up to one-third to one-half of what we can see. But if you find a downed/broken limb (such as we discovered on our property) it’s fine to harvest all the buds since these have already been severed from the living tree. 

How to Harvest

The buds pop off the branches fairly easily. Depending upon the season and the weather, this can get a bit sticky. So you might want to wear gloves or or be prepared to wash your hand immediately after harvesting.

Balm of Gilead: Healing Cottonwood Recipe

There are many ways to use cottonwood buds. The most widely known recipe is Balm of Gilead or infused oil. Our favorite method to make it is also the simplest (we originally got this recipe many years ago from our friend John Gallagher, co-founder of LearningHerbs):

• Harvest cottonwood buds directly into a clean mason jar.

• Fill the jar about half-full with the buds.

• Pour olive oil over the buds until covered.

• Secure a piece of fabric or cheesecloth over the jar top with a metal screw band or ring.

• Place the jar on a dish (to catch possible overflow).

• About every day, stir the concoction with a clean utensil like a skewer.

• Let sit for 4 weeks to 4 months.

• Strain the oil into a clean container, squeezing the buds to remove excess oil.

• Compost the buds.

• Label the container and store in a cool and dark place, for up to 2 years.

We hope you enjoyed learning more about our wild neighbor, the cottonwood tree! Do you have cottonwoods near you? Have you ever harvested the buds?