Foothills, montane, subalpine. Streamsides. Spring.
Fish Creek Trail, May 21, 2006.

Narrowleaf Cottonwood is the dominant tree for miles along the Dolores and Animas Rivers near Dolores and Durango, Colorado and along many other streams in the Southwest.  From 6,500 feet to 8,500 feet it forms extensive stands along most streams where, as in this picture, it commonly grows tightly packed, slender, and to 60 feet tall.  Green leaves cover most trees from bottom to top because the trunk has a raggedy collection of small limbs, all of which produce leaves. 

Click for glorious fall color.

"Populus" is Latin for "people" and is the classical Latin name for the tree.  "Angustifolia" is Latin for "narrow leaf".

Populus angustifolia was named and first described by Edwin James.

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Streamsides. Spring.
Roaring Fork Road, January 24, 2007.

Winter allows you to see the mass of interlaced branches characteristic of Populus angustifolia.  Contrast this growth pattern with that of Populus deltoides with its long branchless trunk and crown of leaves.  Very old Populus angustifolia trees often loose their numerous lower branches and from a distance look very similar to Populus deltoides.

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Streamsides. Spring.
Fish Creek Trail, July 28, 2000.

Narrowleaf Cottonwood is in the Willow Family and, because of its long narrow leaves, it is often mistaken for a "Willow".  But no Willow in our area grows so tall. Narrowleaf Cottonwood leaves change to a golden yellow early in the fall turning stream valleys into corridors of color.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Populus angustifolia