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Populus fremontii - S.Watson.

Common Name Cottonwood, Fremont cottonwood, Fremont Poplar, Western Cottonwood
Family Salicaceae
USDA hardiness 2-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Banks of streams and other moist places[71, 82].
Range South-western N. America - California to Texas.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Populus fremontii Cottonwood, Fremont cottonwood, Fremont Poplar, Western Cottonwood


Amy Gaiennie, NPS
Populus fremontii Cottonwood, Fremont cottonwood, Fremont Poplar, Western Cottonwood
www.flickr.com/photos/38213125@N00/2745357140

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Oval.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Populus fremontii is a deciduous Tree growing to 25 m (82ft 0in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from March to April, and the seeds ripen in April. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Inner bark
Edible Uses: Gum

Catkins - raw or cooked[106, 229]. Eaten as a snack[257]. The young green seedpods have been chewed as a gum[257]. Inner bark[106]. There are no more details but inner bark is often dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereals when making bread.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anodyne  Antiinflammatory  Antiscorbutic  Febrifuge

The inner bark was consumed by various native North American Indian tribes in order to prevent scurvy[61, 229]. The bark of most, if not all members of the genus contain salicin, a glycoside that probably decomposes into salicylic acid (aspirin) in the body[213, 238]. The bark is therefore anodyne, anti-inflammatory and febrifuge. It is used especially in treating rheumatism and fevers, and also to relieve the pain of menstrual cramps[238]. An infusion of the bark and leaves has been used to wet a cloth which is then tied around the head as a treatment for headaches[257]. The infusion has also been used as a wash on cuts, bruises, wounds and insect stings[257]. A poultice of the boiled bark and leaves has been used to treat swellings caused by muscle strain[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Basketry  Fuel  Gum  Rooting hormone  Wood

Strips of the inner bark have been used in garments[229]. This report does not make clear if this was merely for ornament, or whether the bark had a functional use[K]. An extract of the shoots can be used as a rooting hormone for all types of cuttings. It is extracted by soaking the chopped up shoots in cold water for a day[172]. The young twigs are peeled and split then used in basket making[61, 229, 257]. Wood - soft, weak, light, rather woolly in texture, without smell or taste, of low flammability, not durable, very resistant to abrasion[11, 229]. Used locally for fence posts, the trees are also frequently pollarded for fuel[82, 229].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Aggressive surface roots possible. An easily grown plant, it does well in a heavy cold damp soil[1]. Prefers a deep rich well-drained circumneutral soil, growing best in the south and east of Britain[11, 200]. Tolerates extremely alkaline soils[200]. Growth is much less on wet soils, on poor acid soils and on thin dry soils[11]. It does not do well in exposed upland sites[11]. It dislikes shade and is intolerant of root or branch competition[200]. A fast-growing but short-lived species[229]. Some forms of this species are tender in Britain[11]. Poplars have very extensive and aggressive root systems that can invade and damage drainage systems. Especially when grown on clay soils, they should not be planted within 12 metres of buildings since the root system can damage the building's foundations by drying out the soil[11]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[200]. Special Features: North American native, Wetlands plant, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - must be sown as soon as it is ripe in spring[113]. Poplar seed has an extremely short period of viability and needs to be sown within a few days of ripening[200]. Surface sow or just lightly cover the seed in trays in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the old frame. If sufficient growth is made, it might be possible to plant them out in late summer into their permanent positions, otherwise keep them in the cold frame until the following late spring and then plant them out. Most poplar species hybridize freely with each other, so the seed may not come true unless it is collected from the wild in areas with no other poplar species growing[11]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 20 - 40cm long, November/December in a sheltered outdoor bed or direct into their permanent positions. Very easy. Suckers in early spring[78].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

S.Watson.

Botanical References

1171200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Murat KARA   Tue Aug 10 10:22:57 2004

Common name:fremont poplar

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