Cottonwood tree canopy with leaves changing color during the Fall season
NPS Photo
Cottonwood trees have long been a universal symbol of desert water. These tall trees with bright green, shimmering leaves need to "keep their feet wet" -- that is, their roots must always reach into groundwater for them to survive. In the Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Park cottonwoods are abundant in Rincon Creek and are scattered throughout the tributaries of Tanque Verde Creek.
