Populus angustifolia

Narrow-leaved cottonwood

Family: Salicaceae · Type: tree · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

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.

Habitat: Streamsides

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: 1500 m

Bioregions: SNE (Division Creek, Inyo Co.)

California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Sierra

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.