Ripaian trees are the trees that grow along water courses. They may also grow in locations where water flow is not permanent, but occurs during heavy rains.

Two of the most characteristic trees of such areas are the Arizona Sycamore (Platanus wrightii) and the Fremont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii). Another tree found generally only along permanent water courses is Goodding Willow (Salix gooddingii).

Many other trees grow in these habitats, but we will describe only a few: Arizona Walnut (Juglans major), Arizona (also Velvet) Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica ssp. velutina), and Netleaf (also Desert) Hackberry (Celtis reticulata)

Each of these trees is easy to identify. The table below shows pictures and gives a brief description of each.

Fremont Cottonwood	Arizona Sycamore	Arizona Walnut	Arizona (Velvet) Ash	Goodding Willow	Hackberry
Bark pale gray	Bark White with large scaly brown and green patches	Bark gray and deeply furrowed	Bark pale gray	Bark ??	Bark pale gray, smooth apart from warty bumps