BALSAM POPLAR
Populus balsamifera

BLACK COTTONWOOD
Populus balsamifera ssp trichocarpa

• the black cottonwood is a subspecies of the balsam poplar
• also known as Balsam Cottonwood, Western Balsam Poplar, Tacamahec Poplar
• the cottonwood is named for the seeds with the cottony hair that float through the air like summer snow
• the balsam gets its name from the resin that has a sweet, balsam odour

UNIQUE FEATURES:

• hardy, straight trunked
• fast growing if have ample moisture and plenty of nutrients
• of all BC's broad leafed trees the balsam poplar if the tallest
• has a resinous fragrance from the sticky buds
• bees use this sticky resin from the buds as a caulking material in their hives
• a chemical produced in young twigs deters snowshoe hare from feeding on them

LOCATION:

• Balsam Poplar: northern part of BC to east of Rockies; rare on Queen Charlotte Islands and northern outer coast of Vancouver Island
• Black Cottonwood: west of the Rocky Mountains
• where their ranges overlap they are often hybridized
• prefer areas with lots of light, favour floodplains and moist upland sites

SIZE:

• Balsam Polar: up to 25 metres in height
• Black Cottonwood: up to 50 metres

FLOWERS:

• male and female catkins which are found on different trees
• male: catkins, 2 to 3 cm long; female: catkins, 8 to 20 cm long
• produce large quatnities of floating fluff (cotton) that carries the tiny seeds

FRUIT:

• hairy capsules which release seeds covered in white, fluffy hairs

LEAVES:

• thick, shiny, dark green with a pale, brown marked underside
• 6 to 12 cm long
• may be wedge-shaped with a pointed tip or oval
• finely toothed
• cottonwood has thicker, larger leaves

BARK:

• when young it is smooth and yellowish-grey turning dark grey, thick and deeply grooved or furrowed as it ages

WOOD CHARACTERISTICS:

• firewood, short, fine fibres good for paper products

USES:

• modern - tissues, other paper products, resin covered buds often collectected for their scent, the resin from the buds is used for natural health ointments
• traditional - cottonwood: wood - canoes, sideboards for riding, cradles, firewood (the ashes were used to make a cleanser for hair and buckskin, masks; roots - rope; inner bark - soap, food; resin - adhesive
• cottonwood and balsam buds - resin from buds used to treat sore throat , coughs etc, a balm was also made from cottonwood buds to relieve congestion
• balsam poplar: bark - boiled as a poultice for wounds, worm medicine; inner bark - food