Return to Native Trees of the Southern Rocky Mountains

The Lanceleaf cottonwood is found along streams in and near the foothills, and is easily recognized by the long leaf stalk and the distinctive leaf shape, with maximum width at mid-length, not near the base of the leaf. It is found from 4500 to about 8500 feet elevation: close to the same elevation range as the Narrowleaf. It grows to 60 feet high. Limbs tend to be more slender and upright than on Plain cottonwood, but similar to the Narrowleaf cottonwood limbs. The scientific name is Populus accuminata , accuminata meaning tapering to a point, referring to the leaf shape.

Lanceleaf reproduces from root suckers, and by layering (rooting) of branches buried in wet soil, for example, following a flood. Whether it can reproduce by seed is not yet known to me.

There is a common notion that this tree is a hybrid of the Narrowleaf cottonwood and any of the varieties of Populus deltoides , such as the Plains or Rio Grande cottonwoods. All three of these cottonwoods, Plains, Narrowleaf, and Lanceleaf, are found together near the eastern foothills near elevation 5500 feet; for example, in the Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs. On the other hand, Lanceleaf is found at higher elevations in the mountains than Plains cottonwood. One specimen is found in Fort Bayard in southern New Mexico, hundreds of miles from the nearest Plains cottonwood. It may be a self-fertile variety, and if so will grow from its seeds.

Leaves

The leaf blade is 2 to 3.5 inches long; width is more than half the length. Leaf stalks are long - at least 1/2 to 3/4 the length of the blade. Note that Narrowleaf cottonwood and Balsam poplar have short leaf stalks. Leaf stalks are round and not flattened. Blades thick, glossy, and leathery, like all cottonwood leaves.

Leaf shape is intermediate between Narrowleaf and Plains cottonwood leaf shape, and the leaf with its stalk is the most distinctive characteristic of this tree.

Buds are not aromatic and not sticky.

Bark: The bark is smoother and paler than the bark on limbs of the same size on the Plains cottonwood, often only slightly broken and pale yellowish or whitish green even on large trunks and limbs. The bark furrowing never achieves the deep, dark gray, furrows of Plains cottonwood bark.