Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Cottonwood

Populus deltoides

Typically in season from April to May in the northern hemisphere. Found in Waterside, Woodland edges.

Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

Photo: (c) Sandy Wolkenberg, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sandy Wolkenberg · iNaturalist

When Cottonwood is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak April to May. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in October

Where it grows

Cottonwood is usually found in Waterside, Woodland edges.

Take Cottonwood into the field

Open Cottonwood in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Cottonwood: common questions

When is Cottonwood in season?

Cottonwood is generally in season from April to May in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Cottonwood grow?

Cottonwood is usually found in Waterside, Woodland edges.

Is Cottonwood safe to forage?

Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits