The eastern Cottonwood, native to Missouri, is a fast growing tree reaching heights of 80 to over 100 feet tall. It typically grows along streams and lowlands and can survive floods. It is dioecious, with male trees producing small reddish flowers and female trees producing capsules that open to spread silky tufted seeds that blow everywhere.

The bark is deeply ridged and dark. The leaves are triangular, dark green up to 5 inches long. The wood is weak and is used only for crates, plywood and pulp. Look for the long lightening scar on this tree.