[Lindy]

There seems to be different trees called "Cottonwood" so I'm trying to find out what everyone else thinks. I've always thought that Black Poplar is Cottonwood and on the older trees the bark gets 6 - 8 inches thick. Is this the same as what the rest of you are referring to as Cottonwood?

Thanks, just a little confused.

[Mottles]

Hi, Cottonwoods are related to poplars and aspens, with which they share the same shaking, shimmering leaves. Here in my neck of the high desert Arizona I'm told we have Fremont Cottonwood tree's. I'm carving cottonwood limbs at present I gather near my home.
Hope this helps,
Kathy

[Pete Rieger]

Not a scientist, but I looked in a book, and here in B.C. we have Black Cottonwood(populus balsamifera subspecies trichocarpa), and way north(Stikine) they have Balsam Poplar( Populus Balsamifera ssp. balsamifera). An old American book I have lists Cottonwood as Populus Deltoides. I suspect that we're all carving on some bark of the poplar family. Interestingly, around here everybody calls a young Cottonwood a Poplar until they get the rough bark, or throw off all that cotton.makes me sneeze!

[Lindy]

Thanks for the info.

I've only had experience with the Black Poplar which is readily found as you said here in BC as well in Alberta. What I find amazing is how much difference there is in the thickness of the bark depending on the tree.

[Greyhair]

I know that the Indian tribes in AZ and NM prefer to carve their Cachina dolls from the Root of a cottonwood. In WA there is a lot of white poplar that is called cottonwood by some locals as well.