Plains Cottonwood
Populus deltoides
While considered a Colorado native, the plains cottonwood favors habitats at a lower elevation, usually below 6,500 feet. Great Sand Dunes is located at and above 8,000 feet where narrow-leaf cottonwoods are native. Because narrow-leaf and plains cottonwoods have the ability to hybridize, scientists have tested Great Sand Dunes' cottonwoods for their genetic purity. They were found to be pure strains of narrow-leaf cottonwood, indicating that no hybridization with plains cottonwood has occurred. People who plant plains cottonwood near the park area run the risk of damaging the genetic purity of these strains of narrow-leaf cottonwood.