The Fremont cottonwood is native to riparian zones of the Southwestern United States and far northern Mexico. The tree grows near streams, rivers, springs, wetlands, and well-watered alluvial bottomlands. The bark is smooth when young, becoming deeply fissured with whitish cracked bark on old trees.
Fun Fact Native Americans in the Western United States and Mexico used parts of the Fremont cottonwood variously for a medicine. The inner bark of Fremont cottonwood contains vitamin C and was chewed as a treatment for vitamin C deficiency. The barks and leaves could be used to make poultices to reduce inflammation or to treat wounds.