# Snowing tree fluff

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowing-tree-fluff/309009>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 20, 2005, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowing-tree-fluff/309009 "2005-06-20T06:24:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowing-tree-fluff/309009/1 "2005-06-20T06:24:41Z")

</div>

Reading this [BBC article](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4106410.stm) about the falling pukh of the Balsam Poplar in Moscow reminded me of the same phenomenon in US cities.

Is this caused by the same tree, or are there other species that cause delicate, drifting, accumulations of white fluff reminiscent of a giant pillow fight?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowing-tree-fluff/309009/2 "2005-06-20T06:30:55Z")

</div>

I believe you’re talking about the [Cottonwood](http://www.anokaswcd.org/trees/tree_desc/cottonwood.htm). The cottonwood is also in the poplar family, so it’s likely a close relative of the russian tree.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowing-tree-fluff/309009/3 "2005-06-20T06:33:09Z")

</div>

Whoops, hit submit – it’s late. Yes, they are [related](http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/aginfo/trees/handbook/th-3-133.pdf) (PDF).