Part of
aspen/cottonwood/poplar genus Populus
in
willow family Salicaceae.
If leaf mid-vein=narrow and buds=slightly-⫴ hairy (rather than mid-vein=wide and buds=sticky), some sources call this tree subspecies (or sister-species):
- plains cottonwood Populus deltoides monilifera (🏛🌳︎ state tree of Wyoming),
- Populus deltoides occidentalis, or
- Populus sargentii.
Can form a
hybrid
with
balsam poplar Populus balsamifera
(also part of the
aspen/cottonwood/poplar genus Populus
), forming
balm of Gilead Populus × jackii.
The hybrid occurs occasionally in nature.
Native to 🇨🇦 🇺🇸 Canada and USA, east of the 🗻︎ Rocky Mountains.
🗺 Map by county (🇺🇸 USA-48),
🗺 map (🇨🇦 Canada, 🇺🇸 USA)
(color key),
🗺 map (North America, Central America), 
🗺 today + with climate change (eastern 🇺🇸 USA).
🏛🌳︎ State tree of Kansas and Nebraska.
Uses by native peoples
(Ethnobotany database)
Populus hosts caterpillars of 367 species
of butterflies and moths, in some areas.
This plant is also known to be a host for (in areas where invasive)
🐝︎ spotted lanternfly (SLF) Lycorma delicatula.
Often grows in clonal colonies
[1]
— look around for other stems!
This tree produces cottonwood fluff at the same time of year that two authors here want to stain their deck. Annoying, if you use oil-based stain that needs days to dry!
"What's Up With All The White Fluff? Why Cottonwood Trees Are Seeding Like Crazy This Year."