Cottonwood, Fremont's - Populus fremontii

A medium to tall tree to 50 m (165 feet) with a narrow, rounded open to pointed crown and straight trunk; bark is smooth, thin, yellowish-gray when young and turning dark grayish-brown, thick, deeply and sharply furrowed with scaly ridges; branches are erect reddish-brown and marked by orange pores when young, turning dark gray and roughened by leaf scars with age; leaves are alternate, deciduous, simple, broadest near rounded or wedge shaped base, pointed at tip, finely toothed, thick, leathery, dark green and smooth above and pale green or silvery white below with rust colored spots; flowers, male and female on separate trees, males dense catkins, females loose catkins; fruit, many three-parted hairy capsules in catkins containing numerous hairy seeds. Habitat is typically mineral soil over gravel and cobble and sites are commonly flooded in spring with watertable dropping below 40 in later in growing season. These sites are typically excessively drained with low waterholding capabilities that allow rapid movement of highly aerated groundwater.

Greenhouse asexual propagation by seed is difficult because the seed is very small and short-lived (most references indicated the seed is viable for 24 to 48 hours). Planting by seed requires surface broadcasting with no cover and extended surface moisture to ensure seedlings do not dry out.

Field propagation of this species is relatively easily. They can be propagated with dormant unrooted hardwood cuttings. Ensure the base is placed into permanent moist zone. Recommendations are that the cutting be long and tapering. Cut off the top 0.6 to 0.94 m (2 to 3 feet) to enhance rooting. Remove by rubbing with a glove all but the top 4 to 5 buds. This will result in tree-like growth rather than shrub-like growth.

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Last Modified: 07/05/2007