Propagating Cottonwood Trees from Seeds and Cuttings

Propagating Cottonwood Trees from Seeds and Cuttings

Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) seeds are short-lived; sow immediately when released from catkins (May–July in South, June–mid-July in North). Surface sow, keep moist, germination in weeks.

Softwood Cuttings (Summer)

1. Take 6-inch cuttings from semi-green wood.
2. Apply rooting hormone to cut ends.
3. Plant in warm, moist sand.
4. Mist 2–3 times daily or enclose in clear plastic bag for humidity.
5. Check for roots by end of summer.

Both methods work; cuttings give faster, genetically identical trees.