Fremont Cottonwood

Populus fremontii

Family: Salicaceae or Willow (Poplar)

Leaves: Deltoid to kidney-shaped; 3" to 6" long, 4" to 5" wide; deciduous; rounded teeth on margin; pointed, short apex; glabrous; turn bright gold in fall; petiole 1-1/2" to 3" long, flattened laterally, causing leaf to flutter in the wind.

Twigs/buds: Twigs yellow-brown and angular. Terminal buds 3/4" long, pointed, shiny-brown, resinous, fragrant when crushed.

Bark: Light green, smooth on young trunks; on older trunks thick, gray, deeply furrowed with flat-topped ridges.

Wood: Fairly unimportant. See eastern cottonwood for description.

General: Native from about the Wasatch Front south including lower-elevation river drainages (Green and Colorado) in southern Utah and throughout the Southwest. Usually found naturally along streams.

Landscape Use: Rarely used and cultivars are not available, but it is a good, large cottonwood that would be worth having in the right setting. Zones 5-9.

Comments and Limitations:

• Weak wood and/or branch structure.
• Prefers abundant water.