Swamp Cottonwood
Populus heterophylla
Found in blackwater and brownwater swamp forests, tidal swamp forests, depression ponds, interdune ponds. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you
67
Strong
Native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?
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- Height
- About 100 feet
- Light
- Full sun
- Soil moisture
- Moist to standing water
At a glance
- Life cycle
- Woody perennial
- Leaves
- Deciduous
- Bloom
- March to April
- Fruiting season
- Spring to summer
JFMAMJJASOND
Not yet recorded · Spread
Recorded in 33 Virginia counties.
Natural habitats
Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.
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Depression ponds and limesinks
Shallow ponds in Coastal Plain depressions, such as limesinks and the ponds in some Carolina bays, that rise and fall with the seasons.
Also found with this plant
Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 116 animals.
- Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus
- Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asio
- Eurasian Collared-doveStreptopelia decaocto
- European StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Golden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapa
- Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensis
- Great Blue HeronArdea herodias
- Great EgretArdea alba
- Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus
- Green HeronButorides virescens
- Hairy WoodpeckerPicoides villosus
- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus
- Kentucky WarblerOporornis formosus
- Louisiana WaterthrushSeiurus motacilla
- Mourning DoveZenaida macroura
- Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis
- Northern FlickerColaptes auratus
- Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottos
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citrea
- Purple FinchCarpodacus purpureus
- Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalus
- Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis
- Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus
Ecological relationships
Who uses this plant?
261CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA
Genus host records with ranges including VA · Populus
- Limenitis archippusViceroy
- Limenitis arthemisRed-spotted Purple
- Nymphalis antiopaMourning Cloak
- Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
- Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
- Acleris nigrolineaBlack-Lined Acleris
- Acleris pulverosana"North American" Hasty Acleris
- Acleris robinsonianaRobinson's Acleris
- Acleris varianaEastern Blackheaded Budworm
- Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
Show all 261
- Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
- Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
- Acronicta impressaImpressive Dagger, Printed Dagger
- Acronicta innotataUnmarked Dagger
- Acronicta insularisHenry's Marsh Moth, Cattail Caterpillar
- Acronicta lepusculinaCottonwood Dagger
- Acronicta longaLong-Winged Dagger, Darkish Dagger
- Acronicta noctivagaNight-Wandering Dagger, Burglar Dagger
- Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
- Actias lunaLuna Moth
- Aethalura intertextaFour-Barred Gray
- Agonopterix argillaceaClay-Colored Agonopterix
- Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
- Americerura scitiscriptaBlack-Etched Prominent
- Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Amphipyra glabellaSmooth Amphipyra
- Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
- Anarta trifoliiThe Nutmeg, Clover Cutworm
- Anathix rallaDotted Sallow
- Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
- Ancylis discigeranaYellow Birch Leaffolder Moth
- Anisota virginiensisPink-striped Oakworm Moth
- Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
- Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
- Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
- Archips cerasivoranaCherry Tent Caterpillar, Cherry Worm, Ugly Nest Caterpillar
- Archips fervidanaOak Webworm Moth
- Archips purpuranaOmnivorous Leafroller Moth
- Arctia parthenosSt. Lawrence Tiger Moth
- Argyrotaenia marianaGray-Banded Leafroller Moth
- Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
- Autographa amplaLarge Looper Moth, Broken-Banded Y, Climbing Looper
- Automeris ioIo Moth
- Besma quercivorariaOak Besma
- Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
- Cabera erythemariaYellow-Dusted Cream Moth
- Cabera variolariaPink-Striped Willow Spanworm Moth, Vestal Moth, The Vestal
- Callosamia prometheaPromethea Silkmoth, Promethea Moth
- Caloptilia stigmatellaPoplar Caloptilia
- Campaea perlataPale Beauty, Fringed Looper
- Catocala amatrixThe Sweetheart, Sweetheart Underwing
- Catocala blandulaCharming Underwing
- Catocala carissimaCarissima Underwing Moth, Southern Darling Underwing
- Catocala cerogamaYellow-Banded Underwing
- Catocala concumbensSleepy Underwing, Pink Underwing
- Catocala marmorataMarbled Underwing
- Catocala partaMother Underwing
- Catocala relictaWhite Underwing
- Catocala unijugaOnce-Married Underwing
- Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
- Celypha nr.Celypha Moth
- Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
- Cenopis reticulatanaReticulated Fruitworm Moth
- Chaetaglaea sericeaSilky Sallow
- Charadra deridensThe Laugher
- Chlosyne nycteisSilvery Checkerspot
- Choristoneura conflictanaLarge Aspen Tortrix
- Choristoneura fumiferanaSpruce Budworm Moth
- Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
- Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
- Clostera albosigmaSigmoid Prominent
- Clostera apicalisPoplar Tent Caterpillar Moth, Toothed Clostera
- Clostera inclusaAngle-Lined Prominent, Poplar Tent Maker, Poplar Leaf-Tier
- Coelodasys apicalisPlain Schizura
- Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
- Coleophora multipulvellaApple Pistol Casebearer, Pistol Casebearer Moth
- Colocasia propinquilineaClosebanded Yellowhorn
- Condylorrhiza vestigialisThe Alamo Moth
- Crocigrapha normaniNorman's Quaker
- Cucullia intermediaIntermediate Cucullia, Goldenrod Cutworm, Dashed Paint, Intermediate Hooded Owlet Moth
- Dasychira plagiataNorthern Conifer Tussock Moth
- Dasychira vagansVariable Tussock Moth
- Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
- Diachrysia ballucaSplendid Brass Looper, Green-Patched Looper
- Dichomeris ligulellaPalmerworm
- Drepana arcuataArched Hooktip, Masked Birch Caterpillar
- Dysstroma citrataDark Marbled Carpet
- Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
- Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
- Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
- Ennomos subsignariaElm Spanworm Moth
- Epimecis hortariaTulip-Tree Beauty
- Epirrita autumnataThe Autumnal Moth, November Moth
- Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
- Estigmene acreaSalt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth
- Euchlaena deductariaForked Euchlaena
- Euchlaena irrariaLeast-Marked Euchlaena
- Euchlaena tigrinariaMotted Euchlaena
- Eucirroedia pampinaScalloped Sallow
- Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
- Eulithis propulsataCurrant Eulithis
- Eupithecia columbiataColumbia Pug
- Eupithecia palpataSmall Pine Looper, Palpata Pug
- Eupsilia deviaLost Sallow
- Eupsilia sidusSidus Sallow
- Eupsilia tristigmataThree-Spotted Sallow, Brown Fruitworm
- Eurois occultaGreat Grey Dart, Great Brocade
- Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
- Euzophera semifuneralisAmerican Plum Borer
- Evora hemidesmaSpirea Leaftier
- Fishia illocataWandering Brocade
- Furcula cinereaGray Furcula
- Gesta icelusDreamy Duskywing
- Glena cribratariaDotted Gray
- Gluphisia septentrionisCommon Gluphisia
- Gypsonoma haimbachianaCottonwood Twig Borer
- Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
- Haploa contiguaThe Neighbor
- Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
- Hesperumia sulphurariaSulphur Moth
- Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
- Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
- Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
- Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
- Ipimorpha pleonectusaEven-Lined Sallow, Blackcheeked Tentmaker
- Iridopsis defectariaBrown-Shaded Gray, Willow Looper
- Iridopsis larvariaBent-Line Gray
- Kocakina fidelisIntractable Quaker, Green Fruitworm, Fourlined Green Fruitworm
- Korscheltellus gracilisConifer Swift Moth, Graceful Ghost Moth
- Lacanobia grandisGrand Arches
- Lacanobia subjunctaSpeckled Arches, Subdues Arches, Harnessed Mamestra, Speckled Cutworm Moth, Grand Arches?(incorrectly)
- Lacinipolia lustralisLustral "Mamestra"
- Lacinipolia renigeraBristly Ground Cat, Bristly Cutworm Moth, Kidney Spotted "Mamestra"
- Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
- Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
- Lithophane baileyiBailey's Pinion
- Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
- Lithophane dispositaGreen-Gray Pinion, Dashed Grey Pinion
- Lithophane groteiGrote's Pinion, Green Fruit Worm
- Lithophane heminaHemina Pinion
- Lithophane innominataNameless Pinion
- Lithophane petulcaWanton Pinion
- Lithophane semiustaSinged Pinion
- Lithophane unimodaDowdy Pinion
- Lobophora nivigerataPowdered Bigwing, Two-Lined Aspen Looper
- Lomographa semiclarataBluish Spring Moth, Wildcherry Looper
- Lophocampa caryaeHickory Tussock Moth, Hickory Tiger Moth
- Lophocampa maculataSpotted Tussock Moth, Yellow-Spotted Tiger Moth
- Lycia ypsilonWoolly Gray
- Macaria ulsterataBirch Angle, Peacock Moth
- Machimia tentoriferellaGold-Striped Leaftier Moth
- Macrurocampa marthesiaMottled Prominent
- Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
- Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
- Megalopyge crispataBlack-Waved Flannel Moth, Crinkled Flannel Moth
- Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
- Melanolophia signatariaSignate Melanolphia
- Meroptera pravellaLesser Aspen Webworm
- Metanema determinataDark Metanema
- Metanema inatomariaPale Metanema
- Metarranthis duariaRuddy Metarranthis
- Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
- Nadata gibbosaWhite-Dotted Prominent
- Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
- Nites betulellaBlackdotted Birch Leaftier
- Nycteola frigidanaFrigid Baileya, Frigid Nycteola, Frigid Owlet
- Nycteola metaspilellaSienna-Dotted Nycteola, Forgotten Frigid Owlet
- Nymphalis l-albumCompton Tortoiseshell
- Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
- Oedemasia leptinoidesBlack-Blotched Schizura
- Oedemasia semirufescensRed-Washed Prominent
- Olethreutes appendiceumServiceberry Leafroller
- Olethreutes fasciatanaBanded Olethreutes
- Orgyia definitaDefinite Tussock Moth
- Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
- Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
- Orthosia revictaSubdued Quaker
- Orthosia rubescensRuby Quaker
- Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
- Pachysphinx modestaModest Sphinx, The Big Poplar Sphinx
- Paleacrita vernataSpring Cankerworm Moth
- Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
- Pandemis canadanaGreen Aspen Leaftier
- Pandemis lamprosanaWoodgrain Leafroller
- Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
- Paonias myopsSmall-Eyed Sphinx
- Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
- Papilio cresphontesEastern Giant Swallowtail
- Paranthrene dolliiPoplar Borer
- Paranthrene tabaniformisDusky Clearwing
- Parasa chlorisSmaller Parasa, Green Slug Moth
- Parasa indeterminaStinging Rose Caterpillar Moth, Rose Slug Caterpillar
- Parastichtis suspectaThe Suspected
- Pero morrisonariaMorrison's Pero
- Phaeoura quernariaOak Beauty Moth
- Pheosia rimosaBlack-Rimmed Prominent, Mirrowbacked Caterpillar
- Pheosidea elegansElegant Prominent
- Phiaris glacianaFrosted Olethreutes
- Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
- Phobetron pitheciumHag Moth, Monkey Slug
- Phyllodesma americanaLappet Moth, American Lappet Moth, Southern Lappet Moth
- Phyllonorycter apparellaAspen Leaf Blotch Miner
- Phyllonorycter populiellaPoplar Leafminer
- Phyllonorycter salicifoliellaWillow Leaf Blotch Miner
- Plagodis alcoolariaHollow-Spotted Plagodis
- Plagodis phlogosariaStraight-Lined Plagodis
- Plagodis pulverariaAmerican Barred Umber, Barred Umber
- Plagodis serinariaLemon Plagodis
- Pococera aplastellaAspen Webworm Moth
- Pococera asperatellaMaple Webworm
- Polia nimbosaStormy Arches
- Polygonia interrogationisQuestion Mark
- Prionoxystus robiniaeCarpenterworm Moth, Black Locust Borer, Cottonwood Borer
- Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
- Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
- Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
- Protitame virginalisVirgin Moth
- Protoboarmia porcelariaPorcelain Gray, Dashedlined Looper
- Pseudexentera oregonanaEarly Aspen Leafcurler
- Pseudothyatira cymatophoroidesTufted Thyatirid
- Psilocorsis quercicellaOak Leaftier
- Psilocorsis reflexellaDotted Leaftier Moth
- Pyromorpha dimidiataOrange-Patched Smoky Moth
- Pyrrhia ciliscaAmerican Bordered Sallow, Noble Sun Moth
- Pyrrhia exprimensPurple-Lined Sallow, Purple-Lined Sun Moth
- Raphia fraterThe Brother, Yellow-Marked Caterpillar
- Rheumaptera hastataSpear-Marked Black Moth, Spear Mark
- Rheumaptera prunivorataFerguson's Scallop Shell, Cherry Scallop Shell
- Satyrium liparopsStriped Hairstreak
- Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
- Scoliopteryx libatrixThe Herald
- Selenia kentariaKent's Geometer
- Sicya maculariaSharp-Lined Yellow
- Smerinthus jamaicensisTwin-Spotted Sphinx
- Sparganothis tristriataThree-Streaked Sparganothis
- Sphinx chersisGreat Ash Sphinx
- Sphinx kalmiaeFawn Sphinx, Laurel Sphinx
- Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
- Spiramater lutraDarling Mamestra, Splashed Arches, Otter Spiramater, Otter Arches
- Spodoptera ornithogalliYellow-Striped Armyworm Moth, Cotton Cutworm
- Sunira bicoloragoBicolored Sallow
- Synanthedon acerrubriRed Maple Borer, Maple Clearwing
- Taniva albolineanaSpruce Needleminer Moth
- Tetracis cachexiataWhite Slant-Line
- Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
- Tolype velledaLarge Tolype, Large Lappet Moth, Vellada Lappet Moth
- Venusia cambricaThe Welsh Wave
- Xanthotype sospetaCrocus Geometer
- Xylena nuperaRed Swordgrass Moth, American Swordgrass Moth, False Armyworm
- Xystopeplus rufagoRed-Winged Sallow
- Zale minereaColorful Zale
- Zanclognatha jacchusalisWavy-Lined Zanclognatha, Wavy-Lined Fan-Foot
- Zeiraphera improbanaLarch Budmoth, Larch Needleworm
- Acleris hudsoniana
- Acleris maccana
- Anania extricalis
- Coleophora sacramenta
- Dichomeris ventrellus
- Framinghamia helvalis
- Rhopobota finitimana
0BeesSoutheastern regional records
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
9BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Populus
- Alectoris chukarChukar
- Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
- Dendragapus obscurusDusky Grouse
- Falcipennis canadensisSpruce Grouse
- Lagopus lagopusWillow Ptarmigan
- Lagopus mutaRock Ptarmigan
- Pheucticus ludovicianusRose-breasted Grosbeak
- Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
- Zenaida asiaticaWhite-winged Dove
Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening
No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects
Growing and identification
Plant details
- Family
- Salicaceae
- Flower color
- White
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Growth habit
- Single stem
- Foliage color
- Green
- Fruit begins
- Spring
- Fruit ends
- Summer
Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.
Growing sources and scope
- Bloom · “March to April” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Flower color · “White” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Fruit begins · “Spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Fruit ends · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Growth habit · “Single stem” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Growth rate · “Moderate” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Height · “About 100 feet” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- primary_flower_color · “white” · USDA PLANTS
- Soil · “Frequent standing water; Moist; Occasionally wet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Conservation status
| Virginia rank | S4 |
|---|---|
| Global rank | G5 |
| VA status | Not verified |
| Federal status | Not verified |
In your garden
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Sources
- Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora
- USDA PLANTS
- Vascular Plants of North Carolina (NC Natural Heritage Program)
- NatureServe Explorer
- Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
- Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
- Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire 2020, Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species, Nature Communications