Kansas State Tree: Cottonwood

Cottonwood is Kansas's official state tree. State Representative Relihan introduced House Bill No. 113 in 1937. The governor signed it on March 23, 1937. The law designated cottonwood without specifying a variety.

The scientific name is Populus deltoides. Two varieties grow in Kansas: eastern cottonwood and plains cottonwood. The USDA considers only plains cottonwood native to Kansas. Both varieties probably qualify as the state tree.

Nebraska and Wyoming also chose cottonwood. All three prairie states selected it for pioneer settlement reasons.

The common name is Cottonwood. The name comes from fluffy white fibers on the seeds. These cotton-like strands help wind disperse seeds. In early summer, female trees release clouds of white cotton that look like snow.

The scientific name is Populus deltoides. Other common names include eastern cottonwood, plains cottonwood, and necklace poplar.

Kansas legislators declared cottonwood the state tree based on homestead survival. The 1937 law stated: 'The successful growth of the cottonwood grove on the homestead was often the determining factor in the decision of the homesteader to stick it out until he could prove up on his claim.'

Pioneers routinely planted fast-growing cottonwoods when claiming prairie land. The trees provided shade, warmth, and cooking fuel. Cottonwoods grow rapidly and can reach 100 feet in 15 years.

A cottonwood grove indicated water availability. Cottonwoods need adequate moisture. A standing grove signaled crops would likely succeed. The 1937 legislation called cottonwood 'the pioneer tree of Kansas.'

Kansas homesteaders faced harsh conditions on treeless prairie. They needed shade from scorching summers and fuel for heating and cooking. Fast-growing cottonwood solved both problems. Settlers planted cottonwood groves immediately after claiming land.

The 1937 legislative statement emphasized survival. Growing successful cottonwood meant finding adequate water. Water meant crops would grow. Failed cottonwoods often preceded abandoned homesteads.

Cottonwood wood is soft, weak, and porous. It warps when dried. The trunk doesn't grow straight. Pioneers used it for building only when sturdier varieties were unavailable. But cottonwood was available on the prairie.

Cottonwoods grow 80 to 100 feet tall with trunks up to 9 feet in diameter. Bark is silvery-white and smooth on young trees. Old trees develop dark gray bark with deep furrows. The massive size makes mature cottonwoods easy to spot.

Leaves are triangular, 3 to 6 inches long. Leaf edges are coarsely toothed. The flat petiole makes leaves twist and flutter in slight breezes. This creates a shimmering effect and soft rustling sound.

Seeds appear in early summer. Female trees release massive amounts of fluffy white cotton. A single tree can release 40 million seeds per season. The cotton drifts like snow.

Cottonwoods grow near water sources like river banks and stream edges. They tolerate flooding exceptionally well. This water preference made them crucial indicators for homesteaders searching for viable farmland.

Cottonwoods are among the fastest-growing North American trees. Growth of 3 to 5 feet per year is common. They can reach 100 feet in 15 years. The trees mature around 12 years and can live over 100 years. Mature bark resists prairie fire heat.

Cottonwoods reproduce through windborne seeds, root sprouts, and cuttings. They also grow from old stumps. This adaptability helped cottonwoods spread alongside settlement.

A famous cottonwood stood outside the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka. The tree shaded citizens and politicians. Presidents Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, and William Howard Taft sought refuge under its canopy.

Legend claims it sprouted from a stake during Capitol construction. A more believable story says the tree was already a sapling in 1866 when construction started. It died of old age in 1984. Today a cutting from the original grows in its place.

Kansas's state flower is the Wild Native Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), adopted in 1903. George Morehouse drafted the bill after noticing Kansans wearing sunflowers to identify themselves. Governor Willis Bailey signed it on March 12, 1903. The sunflower appears on the state flag, quarter, and gave Kansas its nickname.

Cottonwood wood is coarse and of fairly low value. It's used for pallet boxes, shipping crates, and similar items. The wood is easy to work but soft, weak, and prone to warping.

Commercial production happens along wet river banks. The trees tolerate flooding and grow fast, providing wood within 10 to 30 years. Many commercial cottonwoods are hybrids between eastern cottonwood and black poplar.

Early pioneers burned cottonwood stalks for fuel. They used the wood for cabins when other varieties were unavailable. The soft wood made cottonwood a last-choice building material.

Cottonwood is often associated with pioneer resilience and prairie survival. The tree symbolizes homesteader determination. Its rapid growth represents quick adaptation necessary for frontier life.

Cottonwood also symbolizes the relationship between settlers and land. The tree's presence indicated water and farming potential. The legislature's recognition of cottonwood as 'the determining factor' in homestead survival elevated the tree beyond decoration to necessity.