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Swamp cottonwood identification: leaves, bark, fruit and twigs
Swamp cottonwood, Populus heterophylla, is a native tree in Pennsylvania. How to recognize it by its leaves, bark, fruit and twigs, and how to tell it from look-alikes.
Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges. Broad oval leaves 4 to 7 inches long with a heart-shaped base and a round (not flat) leaf stem. Bark: Gray-brown with strong vertical ridges. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
How to identify swamp cottonwood
| Leaf type | Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges |
|---|---|
| Leaves | Broad oval leaves 4 to 7 inches long with a heart-shaped base and a round (not flat) leaf stem. |
| Bark | Gray-brown with strong vertical ridges. |
| Fruit | Half-inch capsules on hanging catkins in spring. |
| Twigs | Stout reddish or greenish brown twigs with orange-brown pith. |
| Size and shape | Can pass 80 feet with a straight, clear trunk. |
From the Virginia Tech Dendrology fact sheet, in our own words.
Is swamp cottonwood native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists swamp cottonwood as native to Pennsylvania.
See all 140 trees, with a 4-question identifier, in our Pennsylvania tree identification guide.
Trees that look like swamp cottonwood
| Tree | Its leaves |
|---|---|
| Eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides | Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges. Triangular leaves 3 to 6 inches long with rounded teeth; the leaf stem is flattened and has small glands at the top. |
Compare the leaves first, then the bark, fruit and twigs on each tree’s page.
Other poplars, aspens and cottonwoods in Pennsylvania
Bigtooth aspen (Populus grandidentata), Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), White poplar (Populus alba), Balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera), Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra).
Questions
How do you identify swamp cottonwood?
Look for alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges. Broad oval leaves 4 to 7 inches long with a heart-shaped base and a round (not flat) leaf stem. Bark: Gray-brown with strong vertical ridges.
Is swamp cottonwood native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists swamp cottonwood as native to Pennsylvania.
How big does swamp cottonwood get?
Can pass 80 feet with a straight, clear trunk.
How can you tell swamp cottonwood in winter?
Check the twigs and bark. Twigs: Stout reddish or greenish brown twigs with orange-brown pith. Bark: Gray-brown with strong vertical ridges.
What tree looks like swamp cottonwood?
Eastern cottonwood. Compare the leaves first.
Sources: Virginia Tech Dendrology (Populus heterophylla fact sheet); Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, PA Vascular Plant List (native or introduced status). Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
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