Fremont Cottonwood

Populus fremontii

Arizona Native

Found along streams, rivers, and waterholes below 6,500 feet, throughout the Southwest, this tree was a sign of water to early explorers. These trees can grow a massive trunk over 5 feet in diameter and up to 100 feet tall. The largest recorded Fremont cottonwood is in southern Arizona and is 92 feet tall, with a circumference of 42 feet. Major John Charles Fremont, an early explorer and territorial governor of the Arizona Territory between 1878-1883, is the tree’s namesake.

For more information on Fremont Cottonwood, visit the links below:


University of Arizona Master Gardener Program
Virginia Tech Department of Forestry
USDA Plants Profile