Populus angustifolia
Narrow-leaved cottonwood
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Salicaceae · Type: Tree · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Populus angustifolia (Narrow-leaved cottonwood) is a native California tree in the Salicaceae family, recognized by lanceolate leaf shape is highly distinctive.
Narrow-leaved cottonwood is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native tree found in the eastern Sierra Nevada near Division Creek in Inyo County along streamsides at elevations of 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to May, this tree produces yellow-green flowers on slender branches. Growing to less than 15 meters tall with a narrow crown, it develops distinctive gummy winter buds and smooth twigs. Its leaves are lanceolate, 4 to 11 centimeters long, with wedge-shaped bases and finely scalloped edges, featuring petioles less than one-third the length of the leaf blade. The tree's slim profile and delicate leaves make it a distinctive riparian species in its mountain habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; lanceolate leaf shape is highly distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Streamsides
Elevation: 1500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Sierra
Outside California: to Oregon, Rocky Mountains, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Populus angustifolia blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Quercus: Poplar leaves flutter conspicuously on flat petioles; oaks have stiff leaves that don't flutter and produce acorns.; vs Salix: Poplar catkins hang downward like tassels; willow catkins stand upright or spread outward.; vs Pyrus: Poplars have catkins and cottony seeds; pears have showy white flowers and round pear-shaped fruits.; vs Platanus: Poplar bark is furrowed; sycamore bark peels in puzzle-piece patches revealing white inner bark.; vs Alnus: Poplar catkins are soft and pendulous; alder has woody cone-like structures that persist through winter.
Frequently asked questions
Is Populus angustifolia native to California?
Yes. Populus angustifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Populus angustifolia bloom?
Populus angustifolia blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Populus angustifolia grow?
Populus angustifolia occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Sierra, at elevations of 1500 m.
What plant family does Populus angustifolia belong to?
Populus angustifolia is in the Salicaceae family, genus Populus.
Is Populus angustifolia rare or endangered?
Populus angustifolia carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.