Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tree
  
Flowering Plants
  
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, Canada, Mexico
  
Southwestern United States, Mexico
  
Types
Plains Cottonwood, Rio Grande cottonwood
  
Not Available
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
bottomlands, Floodplain, Hardwood forests, Riverbanks
  
Alpine Meadows, moist forests, Open areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-9
  
4-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
  
9-1
  
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
  
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Red, Green
  
Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
White
  
Brown
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Toothed curved and flat petiole
  
Long Linear
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Very Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Spring
  
Late Spring, Early Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
  
Pollution
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Layering, Root Division, Stem Cutting
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Water daily during growing season, Water Deeply, Water more in summer
  
Average Water Needs, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering
  
In Summer
Ample Water
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Ample Water
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Remove dead branches, Remove hanging branches
  
cut main flower spike, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, remove old stems before spring
  
Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Borers, Caterpillars, Insects
  
chrysanthemum eelworms, Slugs, Snails
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
  
Drought
  
Flowers
None
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Not Available
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
  
Allergy
Hay fever, Headache, Runny nose, sneezing
  
Unknown
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Landscape Designing
  
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Ornamental use, Water gardening
  
Beauty Benefits
No Beauty Benefits
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
None
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Forms dense stands, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
  
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Anodyne, Anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, Febrifuge
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Inner Bark, Leaves, Seeds
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Uses
Biomass for fuel, Used as firewood, Used As Food
  
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, deer resistant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees
  
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
POPULUS deltoides
  
PENSTEMON barbatus 'Elfin Pink'
  
Common Name
Eastern Cottonwood
  
Beardlip Penstemon, Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
In Hindi
Eastern Cottonwood
  
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
In German
Eastern Cottonwood
  
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
In French
Cottonwood Orient
  
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
In Spanish
Cottonwood del Este
  
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
In Greek
Ανατολική Cottonwood
  
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
In Portuguese
Cottonwood Oriental
  
Elfin Penstemon -de-rosa
  
In Polish
Eastern Cottonwood
  
Elfin Różowy Penstemon
  
In Latin
Orientalium Poplar
  
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Anthophyta
  
Angiosperms
  
Class
Dicotyledonae
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Salicales
  
Lamiales
  
Family
Salicaceae
  
Scrophulariaceae
  
Genus
Populus
  
Penstemon
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Salicoideae
  
Not Available