A recent family trip westward to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks offered a chance to observe the changing landscapes of the Midwest. While Iowa’s familiar fields of corn and soybeans resemble much of Illinois, the transformation across Nebraska — from tallgrass to shortgrass prairie — reveals a striking ecological gradient. One of the most visible and ecologically important features along Interstate 80 is the Platte River and its floodplain, dominated by the eastern cottonwood. Of course, this species is found throughout Illinois, so after a little road trip inspiration, let’s consider the eastern cottonwood.

The mighty cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

The eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) is a fast-growing, deciduous tree native to a vast range of the Eastern United States

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