Rio Grande Cottonwood
Populus deltoides ssp. wislizeni (Populus fremontii)

Family: Willow (Salicaceae)
AKA: Fremont Cottonwood, Alamo Cottonwood
Photo taken on: October 6, 2009
Location: San Ildefonso Pueblo, NM
Life Zones: Plains
Habitat: Moist areas, river banks

Can grow to 100ft with a broad crown, a trunk up to 5ft in diameter and wide-spreading branches. Mature trees have thick, deeply-furrowed, gray bark.

Leaves are glossy green, triangular and wider than they are long. The toothed edges are rounded. Male (top) and female flowers are on separate trees. The female flowers produce cottony seeds.

The leaves turn to gold in the Fall.

Flora of North America reference.