PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood)
Populus tremuloides
PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) (Populus tremuloides) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 30 to 40 ft tall and 15 to 25 ft wide, fast-growing, needs medium water, and prefers full sun. Aspen struggles below ~7,500 ft on the plains, heat stress, sunscald, Cytospora canker, and borers (oystershell scale, poplar borer) cause decline. It's a montane native; performs poorly as a single landscape specimen at lower elevations.
medium water30 to 40 ft tall and 15 to 25 ft wide
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) Ed Alverson, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 2: (c) Ed Alverson, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 3: (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 1 to 6
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 8.2
- Hail tolerance
- low
- Wind tolerance
- low
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Tolerates
- Slopes & erosion control
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 30 to 40 ft tall and 15 to 25 ft wide
- Mature form
- Oval / upright
- Spacing / clearance
- ~25 ft of clearance
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Lifespan
- Short-lived
What it looks like, and when
- Fall color
- Gold, yellow
- Foliage
- Deciduous
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- low
- Deer
- Deer often browse this
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Not rated
Site factors to consider
- Critical: Cold HardinessAspen is a mountain native; down on the plains it is heat, sunscald, and borers that hurt it, not winter cold, so this is an elevation mismatch.
- Watch: Short LivedFast but not forever; this one runs short lived here, so enjoy it and plan a successor rather than treating it as a legacy tree.
- Watch: SuckersIt throws up shoots from the roots and base, so plan on cutting suckers to keep it from turning into a thicket.
Common problems on the Front Range
- Cytospora canker
- Poplar and aspen borers
- Leaf spot and rust in wet springs
These are general tendencies for this group of plants on the Front Range, not a diagnosis. Many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or your local CSU Extension office.
Frequently asked questions
- Is PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- Why is PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) only conditionally recommended on the Front Range?
- The main catches here: Aspen is a mountain native; down on the plains it is heat, sunscald, and borers that hurt it, not winter cold, so this is an elevation mismatch.
- How big does PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) get?
- It matures to about 30 to 40 ft tall and 15 to 25 ft wide.
- How much room does PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) need?
- Give PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) about 25 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) grow into?
- PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) typically grows into an upright-oval crown, taller than it is wide. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) hardy on the Front Range?
- PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) is hardy in USDA 1 to 6. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is well within range. That said, it carries a cold-hardiness caution: Aspen is a mountain native; down on the plains it is heat, sunscald, and borers that hurt it, not winter cold, so this is an elevation mismatch.
- How much water does PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- How fast does PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) grow?
- PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) is a fast-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) live?
- PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) is relatively short-lived for a tree, so plan to replace it sooner than a long-lived shade tree. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- What color does PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) turn in fall?
- PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) turns gold and yellow in autumn. Fall color intensity varies with the season and site on the Front Range.
- Is PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) deer-resistant?
- No. Deer often browse PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood), so plan on protecting it where deer roam.
- Is PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) prone to pests or disease on the Front Range?
- PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood) can be affected by cytospora canker and other issues common to this group on the Front Range. These are general tendencies, not a diagnosis, many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or CSU Extension.
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See also
Related trees
Narrowleaf Poplar (cottonwood)
Populus angustifolia
Eastern Poplar (cottonwood)
Populus deltoides
Plains 'Jeronimus' Poplar (cottonwood)
Populus deltoides subsp. monilifera
Upright European Poplar (cottonwood)
Populus tremula 'Erecta'
Quaking Aspen Poplar (cottonwood)
Populus tremuloides
Lanceleaf Poplar (cottonwood)
Populus x acuminata