Both male and female plants produce spiky flowers called catkins that appear before the leaves come out. Cottonwoods provide very important habitat for many birds. The beautiful Fremont Cottonwood is an iconic symbol of a moist area within an otherwise arid landscape. Great Plains cottonwood ( P. sargentii ), of North America, has thick coarse-toothed leaves. The bark is smooth in younger trees, becoming deeply furrowed with whitish cracked bark with age. Populus fremontii S. Watson – Fremont cottonwood Subordinate Taxa. The Plants Database includes the following 2 subspecies of Populus fremontii . Cottonwoods get their name from the profusion of cotton-like seeds that they shed every spring. The Fremont Cottonwood can be found throughout the southwestern United States and into northern Mexico while the Black Poplar is native to Europe and western Asia. A 1914 survey along the Gila River of Arizona showed 1,584 acres (641 ha) - 33% of the survey area - was occupied by Fremont and other cottonwoods. Cahuilla tribes used the wood for mortars and tools. Fremont's cottonwood trees range from 12 to 35 meters in height, and trunk diameter ranges from 0.30 to 1.5 meters. Trees are either male or female. Alamo, or Fremont cottonwood (P. fremontii), tallest of the group, is found in southwestern North America. It is also grown for ornamental plantings and windbreaks. Fremont's cottonwood (P. fremontii) is native to the southwestern United States and western Mexico. In the United States, the species can be found in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah.In Mexico, it can be found in the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Mexico State, and Puebla. Populus fremontii, commonly known as Frémont's cottonwood, is a cottonwood (and thus a poplar) native to riparian zones of the Southwestern United States and northern through central Mexico. Fremont Cottonwood is more common in our area than Black Cottonwood. On female trees, cottony seeds which can number in the millions on mature trees follow from the catkins. AKA Fremont's Cottonwood Fremont cottonwood has been used mainly in the past for fuel and fence posts. Native Introduced Native and Introduced. Fremont’s cottonwood is a native tree growing in riparian areas near streams, rivers and wetlands in the American Southwest. Many species and hybrids have wood with a variety of uses, including for matches and matchboxes. Populus fremontii. Fremont cottonwood communities are declining as a result of human activities. Twigs were used by the Pima for basket materials. It is one of three species in Populus sect. Its principal uses today are for erosion control, wildlife food and shelter, and shade for livestock and recreation facilities. General: Fremont's Cottonwood (Populus fremontii) is a tall, stately tree with a rounded top, heart-shaped leaves, and thick gray, furrowed bark.. Fremont's Cottonwood is found along washes, rivers, and other wet areas in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) life zone.Family: Willow (Salicaceae).. Other Names: . Named after 19th century American explorer John C. Fremont, it is similar to the Eastern Cottonwood, differing mainly in the leaves having fewer, larger serrations on the leaf edge and small … Fremont Cottonwood Populus fremontii subspecies fremontii Plant type Deciduous tree Size 40′ – 60’x30′ or wider Light Full sun Water Regular Zone 6 to 10. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for subspecies profiles. Some cottonwood trees have been known to add six feet or more in height every single year! 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