How to harvest Poplar Bud (Cottonwood / Balm of Gilead)
The dormant leaf buds of Western balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa), often called cottonwood or Balm of Gilead, are gathered through the winter season when their resin is at its peak.
In this video, we explore how to harvest poplar buds with care, timing, and respect for the tree. These fragrant buds contain powerful medicinal constituents traditionally used to support wound and burn healing, ease pain and inflammation, and soothe coughs and respiratory infections.
Poplar buds can be infused in oil to create salves for topical use, or prepared as tinctures or herbal honeys for internal use. This video offers a practical introduction for herbalists, foragers, and home medicine makers wanting to work with this beloved winter medicine.
To deepen your learning, you can also read our companion article:
