Identifying and Aging a Cottonwood Stump

How to Identify a Cottonwood Stump and Estimate Its Age

Without leaves, use bark and wood characteristics to confirm cottonwood:

Cottonwood Stump ID

• Deeply furrowed, gray-brown bark on older trunks.
• Wood: Light, soft, whitish to light brown; distinct growth rings.
• Often near water (rivers, floodplains).

Age Estimation Formula

1. Measure diameter at 4.5 ft above ground (DBH). For a stump, measure at the top and add ~5 years.
2. If measuring circumference: Diameter = Circumference ÷ 3.14.
3. Multiply diameter (inches) by growth factor 2 (cottonwood factor).
4. Example: 40-inch diameter → 40 × 2 + 5 = 85 years.

Limitations

Growth factors are averages. Site conditions (water, soil, competition) cause variation. For historical significance (e.g., 1835), a core sample or professional dendrochronology is more accurate.