Our November Species of the Month is the majestic Cottonwood Tree. In Maricopa County you will most likely encounter the Fremont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii) species. These trees can grow to be massive. The large gray trunks hug riverbeds and other riparian areas throughout Arizona, especially in Maricopa County. Walking a riverbed or creekside you will surely see the branches of a native Fremont Cottonwood towering over you in the sky.
Our native Cottonwood Trees can reach heights of up to 90’ tall by 60’ in width. These trees are one of our few deciduous tree species that will provide late fall/winter color. If you are looking to see some picturesque fall color consider taking a short drive to one of our local riparian zones such as the Hassayampa River Preserve in Wickenburg or Jewel of the Creek in Cave Creek. For a closer in-town trip consider The Rio Salado in Central/South Phoenix or the Gilbert Riparian Preserve.
Fremont Cottonwood and Gooding Willows, are part of a unique threatened wildlife zone known as the Cottonwood Willow habitats. These trees serve a unique role in our desert ecosystem. Cottonwoods serve as a home or a place to perch and hunt for many of our desert animal species. They provide much needed habitat for species such as River Otters, Bald Eagles, The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and the Lowland Leopard Frog.
After these trees go through a winter deciduous life cycle, they begin to form catkins in early spring and release seeds that resemble floating cotton. If you go on a spring hike you will often see piles of seeds accumulating on the ground near riverbeds or floating through the air.