In this group

black willowSalix nigra

A common native tree of rivers and floodplains in the eastern United States; its narrow leaves are finely toothed.

narrowleaf willowSalix exigua

A widespread western native of streambanks, gravel bars, and ditches, often forming colonies of slender stems.

pussy willowSalix discolor

A native shrub or small tree of wet ground in northern and eastern states, known for soft gray catkins before leaf-out.

Sitka willowSalix sitchensis

A Pacific Coast willow of moist places; the pale, silky lower leaf surface helps narrow the choice.

weeping willowSalix babylonica

A widely planted nonnative tree with long hanging branchlets; garden trees may also be hybrids or cultivars.

Appearance

Growth form

Species may be upright trees, many-stemmed shrubs, or very low mats. Weeping willow is a familiar planted form, but most wild U.S. willows do not have strongly drooping branches.

Flowers

Catkins often appear before or with the leaves. Their size, hairiness, and timing vary greatly among species.

How to recognize it

Most willows have alternate leaves, a single scale covering each winter bud, and narrow catkins made of many tiny flowers. Male and female flowers usually grow on separate plants, a condition called dioecious.

Look-alikes

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• streambanks
• wetlands
• lake shores
• Arctic and alpine tundra

Range

Native willows grow across the United States, from eastern floodplains and western streambanks to Alaska tundra. Planted and introduced species occur too.

Preferred conditions

Many species favor moist, open ground, but different willows occupy habitats from hot desert waterways to alpine and Arctic sites.

Life cycle

Reproduction

The small fruits split open and release many tiny, cottony seeds that travel on wind. Willow seed usually needs moist bare ground quickly, while cut stems of many species can also root.

Connected species

Ties with other wildlife

In the western United States, dense narrowleaf willow thickets offer cover for birds and other wildlife. Other willow species have different wildlife relationships.

Pollinators

• mining beesAndrena

  Several specialist mining bees forage on willows in the United States, especially early in spring.

Name and classification

Group name

Salix is the genus that includes willows.

Number of species

A 2026 count recognizes 475 Salix species worldwide. Counts change as species and hybrids are revised.

Culture and stories

Culture and stories

• Flexible willow shoots have long been used for baskets and other woven work in parts of the United States.
• In Alaska, diamond-patterned wood from several willow species is made into canes and furniture.