Fremont Cottonwood
Populus fremontii

LANDSCAPE USE
Very large shade tree

GROWING CONDITIONS
AN EXPLANAITION OF TERMS USED

SUN full to part sun
WATER very regular water—this tree is riparian and grows in active washes
SOIL best in sandy loose soils
HARDINESS hardy to about -30°F
BASIN low zone
CONTAINER not recommended, they outgrow them quickly
NUTRITION low
MAINTENANCE very little except for regular watering

ECOLOGY
Larval host to the Arizona Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis ssp. arizonensis), the Weidemeyer's admiral (Limenitis weidemeyeri latifascia), the Southwest Viceroy (Limenitis archippus ssp. obsoleta), the western tiger swallowtail (Papilio rutulus), mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), the Dreamy Duskywing (Erynnis icelus), the twirler moth (Gelechia versutella), the Western Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma californica), the Western Poplar Sphinx (Pachysphinx occidentalis), and many, many other species of moths, butterflies, and other insects. Habitat for nesting birds, particularly for raptors. Seeds feed granivorous birds and mammals. Fluff from seeds used as nest material.

ETHNOBOTANY
Native Americans in the Western United States and Mexico used parts of the Frémont's cottonwood variously for a medicine, in basket weaving, tool making, and for musical instruments. The inner bark of Frémont's cottonwood contains vitamin C and was chewed as an antiscorbutic, or treatment for vitamin C deficiency. The bark and leaves could be used to make poultices to reduce inflammation or to treat wounds.

NATURAL DISTRIBUTION
Found along streams banks and near lakes and ponds, below 6,500 ft. throughout the southwestern United States into Mexico.

TAXONOMY AND NAME
This plant is in the Salicaceae, the willow family. There are 98 accepted species of Populus native to most of the Northern Hemisphere..
Populus is the classical Latin name for poplar trees but also means “people" because the many moving leaves in a breeze resemble a moving populace and also in reference of the fact that the trees were often planted around public meeting places in Roman times. The species was named after 19th century American explorer and pathfinder John C. Frémont.