# Frémont Cottonwood (*Populus fremontii*) The Frémont Cottonwood is a tall tree with big, heart-shaped leaves. It grows near rivers and loves sunny places. This tree provides shade and homes for many animals. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Frémont Cottonwood](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cottonwood_at_Zion_Lodge.jpg&width=800) Photo: Amy Gaiennie, NPS, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cottonwood_at_Zion_Lodge.jpg) ## Appearance The Frémont Cottonwood has large, bright green, triangular to heart-shaped leaves that turn brilliant golden-yellow in autumn. Its deeply furrowed, grayish bark often reveals a yellow inner layer on mature trunks. It produces abundant fluffy, white, cotton-like seeds in summer. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malpighiales - **Family:** Salicaceae - **Genus:** Populus ## Interesting facts - Its leaves flutter loudly in the wind, sounding like distant rain. - Native Americans used its bark for medicine and its wood for drums! - The famous Lewis and Clark expedition recorded these towering trees! - This tree is a 'pioneer' species, often the first to grow in disturbed areas. ## Special abilities - **Thirsty Roots:** Frémont Cottonwood has incredibly deep roots that help it find crucial water, even in dry riverbeds. - **Growth Spurt:** Frémont Cottonwood can grow super fast, quickly providing shade and shelter in new riparian areas. - **Fluffy Flight:** Frémont Cottonwood releases thousands of fluffy seeds that fly on the wind to find new homes. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1500-3500 cm - **Spread:** 1000-2500 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** North American Beaver (*Castor canadensis*) — eats its bark and uses branches for dams - **Shelter:** [Yellow-billed Cuckoo](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-billed-cuckoo) (*Coccyzus americanus*) — nests in its dense canopy near water - **Eats:** [Western Tiger Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-tiger-swallowtail) (*Papilio rutulus*) — larvae feed on its leaves - **Shelter:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — roosts and nests in its tall branches ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay away from the tree's branches and seeds, as they can be messy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Frémont Cottonwood? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Frémont Cottonwood? 1500-3500 cm ### How wide does Frémont Cottonwood spread? 1000-2500 cm ### When does Frémont Cottonwood bloom? Spring ### Is Frémont Cottonwood edible? Yes ### Is Frémont Cottonwood toxic? None ### What is Frémont Cottonwood's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Frémont Cottonwood pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Venice Canal Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/venice-canal-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Green River State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/green-river-state-park) — Utah, US · State Park - [Hellyer County Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hellyer-county-park) — California, US · Park - [Caswell Memorial State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/caswell-memorial-state-park) — California, US · State Park - [Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/yuma-territorial-prison-state-historic-park) — Arizona, US · State Park [View all places to see Frémont Cottonwood](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/fr%C3%A9mont-cottonwood) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Frémont Cottonwood: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fr%C3%A9mont-cottonwood)