The Stately Cottonwood

Dune Park, Indiana Tolerant of poor soil and flooding, it is no wonder that the Eastern Cottonwood tree will grow on coastal dunes and flood plains. Because this tree grows in an area where land and water meet, known as a "riparian" zone, it plays an important role in managing the erosion that such an area is prone to. Considered a "pioneer" species as it will grow on newly-formed soil, such as sand or even gravel where few other plants could survive, the Cottonwood typically grows alone. Early homesteaders traveling across the vast Great Plains would be relieved to see one of these trees standing in the distance - it promised shade and water. With a life span occasionally exceeding 100 years, some of the Cottonwoods still growing in the Great Plains states probably offered just such an oasis for herds of bison and weary travelers. Named for its cottony seedlings that shower down in late spring, the stately Cottonwood is a member of the Poplar family.