Cottonwood is not a glamorous wood, but for its uses, glamour is not a requirement. While some might think the name "cottonwood" refers to its use as pulpwood or excelsior, it refers instead to the cotton-like fluff that is found on the seeds of the trees -- a kind of white wool that appears when the seeds are ripe.

Most of the cottonwood for commercial purposes is cut into lumber or veneer that is remanufactured. A typical use for cottonwood would be as core material, which is then overlaid with a furniture-grade veneer. Other uses include paneling, furniture parts, food containers, fruit baskets, pulpwood, luggage interiors, boxes and crates. Cottonwood is also used for shipping containers and agricultural implement parts. Cottonwoods grow plentifully all across the United States.

Cottonwoods are part of the poplar family, known as rapid growing trees. The largest of the American poplars is black cottonwood, which can be found from Alaska south to California. It can grow as tall as 200 feet and its large, pointy leaves are distinctive for their fragrance.

Cottonwood is extremely light in color. It can be lustrous, but with an indistinct grain pattern. The heartwood of the three main species is similar, a kind of off-white to gray-brown with the rare streak of color. The annual rings are distinctively wide and the pores of the wood are closed.

Eastern cottonwood is classified as moderately soft. Black cottonwood is slightly softer. Cottonwoods are moderately weak for bending strengths and low in shock resistance. Careful seasoning of wood is needed to avoid warping. The wood has moderate to large shrinkage.