Both the commissioning and disposal of weapons at ammunition plants have led to soil, ground, and surface water contamination by the explosives 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7- tetraazocine (HMX). In this study, eastern cottonwood (Poplus deltoides) was grown both hydroponically and in explosives-contaminated soil. The hydroponic nutrient solution was spiked with explosives and sampled daily for eleven days to determine the rate of uptake. TNT was rapidly removed, resulting in a mean pseudo-first-order rate constant of 0.13 hr -1 followed by RDX at 0.01 hr -1 . HMX was not significantly removed. Tissue analysis suggested plant-catalyzed transformation. Cuttings were also grown in columns containing munitions contaminated soil and harvested weekly for up to eight weeks. Soil concentrations did not change significantly, and tissue analysis resulted in the identification of RDX only. In both studies, up to 60% of the identified RDX was found in leaf tissues.