Cottonwood Tree old_product_id_6125 like the soil at a variegated varieties require more like the soil at a woodland edge Those plants in the grab bag that are indeed positive environmental contributors are more ecologically friendly ground covers It has acted as a source of food and utility for Native American tribes․ Native Americans have used the bark for basket weaving and sap for medicinal purposes․ It was tall enough to be visible from many miles away and often marked places that were important to tribes in their territories․ it is a symbol of survival․ The tribes have customarily viewed the cottonwood as a material embodiment of the connection between earth and sky‚ and carved canoes from its trunks․ The husks of the seeds that are blown in spring are often incorporated into stories‚ symbolizing both the fragility and the resilience of life․ The cottonwood continues to be a well known and used tree in landscaping‚ representing the concept of organisms having natural beauty among urbanization․ They are an important foundation species in many ecosystems‚ providing dense canopy cover for birds‚ nest sites and rich food sources in large quantities of invertebrates․ The cottonwood is used as a habitat for woodpeckers and some warblers‚ and its seeds and the insects found on its bark are consumed by various brightly colored finch and other birds․ When the tree scatters its seeds in spring‚ the seeds feed other small animals․ Cottonwoods have deep roots that help to secure riverbanks and prevent erosion of their banks․ They also provide homes for burrowing animals‚ and their shade allows other flora‚ such as grasses and plants‚ to thrive at their base and create a unique undergrowth at rivers and streams․ When that happens‚ the cottonwood becomes a busy world in itself‚ a symbol of the harmony of nature․