Many trees have long lifespans, ranging from 150 to 300 years; however, cottonwood is not one of them. So, what is the lifespan of cottonwood trees?
The mystery will be unveiled in the following sections, so please scroll down for further information.
Besides information about its lifetime, this article provides deeper insights into the cottonwood’s development and some problems during its maturity.
What Is Cottonwood
The cottonwood tree is native to North America and widely distributed in the northern temperate regions. It belongs to the Salicaceace family with a cottony seed.
How tall do cottonwood trees grow? A typical plant can grow up to 30 meters or 100 feet. Cottonwood leaves are alternate with an oval shape and a heart-shaped outline in the center.
It also has coarsely toothed edges that could cause injuries if you accidentally touch the margins.
The bark shows a smooth gray-to-green hue when the cottonwood tree is still a seedling but turns dark and deeply furrowed during maturity.
Its blossoms often develop in the dropping catkins to create favorable conditions for pollination when the season comes.
Like other plantations, male and female flowers grow on separate trees, and bees or winds will help them pollinate.
What Is The Lifespan Of Cottonwood Trees?
How long do cottonwoods live? They only live for over 100 years, which is a fairly short lifespan for a tree. Surpassing this threshold, they will start to rot.
First, the damage is shown via the death of large branches and bark. The bark will be dotted with white marks on its appearance, and the branches are fragile and easily break and fall down.
In other words, the half-dead appearance is the first sign of the aging cottonwood tree.
Under this circumstance, it seriously threatens people who walk or relax beneath the native tree. They could get serious injuries when broken branches fall on their heads or other body parts at any moment.
Nonetheless, there are still some exceptions. Some cottonwood varieties have over 300 years of life expectancies under good environmental conditions.
A perfect instance is one tree in British Columbia, the oldest living cottonwood at 315 years old.
There are additional details about the cottonwood lifespan you should pay close to:
- Cottonwood has witnessed the fastest growth during its first 30 years of life.
- Checking the leaves is highly recommended to know whether your tree is dying. They may have black spots like pepper foliage when being infested with sooty mold.
- The tree’s age is expressed by the number of wood circles inside its bark.
How Long Does It Take The Cottonwood Trees To Be Mature?
As mentioned, the tree will grow fast during the first 30 years. Let’s dive deeply into the two phases of its rapid growth.
The First Stage Of Development
A cottonwood plant begins life as a tiny seed, like a speck of dust. It has been carried by the wind and deposited in this location, so now it’s time to survive and grow into a mature cottonwood.
It requires low maintenance.
For the first few years, its roots will develop quickly to gain strength and move downwards the earth with the purpose of taking nutrients and absorbing around 200 gallons of water.
Then, a seed grows into a small seedling with two or three small leaves. Later, it will reach a certain size, and the width also increases each year.
The Second Stage Of Development
It continues to develop faster until 30 years. From this time onwards, the development of cottonwood slowed down with the formation of nearly all tree parts.
It can reach 100 feet in height with spreading branches and a broad trunk. The tree also produces fruits and flowers annually, relying on the help of birds, bees, and winds to pollinate.
The seed will be moved to another location and start its life there.
When it is 80 years old, that means cottonwood fully matures. From then on, it starts to decline in health and vigor, eventually leading to death.
What Are The Reasons Why A Cottonwood Tree Doesn’t Live Long?
Below are three factors limiting the cottonwood tree’s lifespan.
Being Vulnerable To Infections And Insects
Cottonwood easily falls prey to the attack of insects. Its bark is thick enough to be a safe hiding place for many insects, along with pests.
Given its green leaves, they are a nutritional source for many caterpillar types to consume.
Due to the above things, that’s why it is particularly prone to diseases or infections brought by insects.
Being Shallow-Rooted
Cottonwood is a shallow-rooted species of tree, which means that its roots are not strong enough to endure strong forces from external factors.
For this reason, the tree is easily uprooted on some windy and rainy days.
Consuming Large Amounts Of Water
To thrive well, cottonwood requires lots of water. Hence, when being deposited in dry soil or growing in a drought area with a lack of annual precipitation, the plant will likely die out.
What Are Some Problems With The Cottonwood Trees?
Although cottonwood is easy to plant and needs less maintenance during its development, there are some drawbacks that you must notice closely.
Its barks are quite weak and tend to break in windy spots. This poses a serious threat to human health, especially when it is grown in the residential area.
The shallow roots are susceptible to various fungal diseases. This requires you to plant a cottonwood seed in a spot where the air circulation is adequate and the soil is well-draining.
Eventually, this fast-growing tree attracts a wide range of aphids that affect nearby crops and ruin locals’ lives.
When spotting these tiny animals, you must not pick them to eat because they are not edible, unlike kale aphids.
FAQs
Are Eastern Cottonwood Trees Good For Anything?
Eastern cottonwood does not provide many utilities. Besides providing shade and making an effective windbreak, you don’t get much out of this species.
Another great benefit of Eastern cottonwood is its application in the paper-making industry. Yet, the paper deriving from cottonwood does not ensure good quality.
How Old Is The Oldest Cottonwood Tree?
As presented above, the oldest cottonwood is around 400 years old in British Columbia. The runner-up is a Bamilliva tree in the United States, at 315 years old.
Why Is Cottonwood Endangered?
The main reason behind the loss of cottonwood forests is that settlers have cleared many types of trees to establish their houses and farms in areas of fertile soils, flat lands, and abundant water sources.
Apart from that, excessive human soil cultivation and canker diseases are responsible for this issue.
The Bottom Line
My post has offered comprehensive insights into the lifespan of cottonwood trees. Its life expectancy is quite short, only over a century.
However, it can thrive well and grow more than 300 or even 400 years under ideal conditions, so care for your tree more, and you won’t be disappointed.
Thank you for your genuine support, and have a nice day!
