Pacific Willow

Scientific Name: Salix lucida Muhl. ssp. lasiandra (Benth.) A.E. Murray


Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Magnoliopsida / Dilleniidae / Salicales / Salicaceae / Salix L./ Salix lucida Muhl. ssp. lasiandra (Benth.) A.E. Murray

Pacific Willow
General Information
Usda SymbolSALUL
GroupDicot
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsShrubTree,
Native LocationsSALUL

Plant Guide

Alternative Names

yellow willow, red willow, black willow, whiplash willow, golden willow, caudate willow, western black willow, waxy willow, western shining willow, Salix lasiandra (SALA5)

Uses

Ethnobotanic: The inner bark was dried, ground into a powder, and then added to flour for making bread. The stems and bark were used in basket making (Moerman 1998). The native Americans used the stems for bow making and the bark for fabric making and tea. Medicinal: Willows produce salicin, which is closely related to acetylsalicyclic acid, commonly known as aspirin. Various preparations from willows are used to treat stomachache, sore throats, colds, diarrhea, and dandruff. The inner bark is haemostatic and has been applied externally to bleeding cuts (Moerman 1998). Landscaping & Wildlife: Pacific willow is an excellent species for use in landscaping. It provides food and cover for many wildlife species. Deer and elk browse the young shoots of the plant. It is also a preferred food of mouse and cattle. Agroforestry: Salix lasiandra is used in tree strips for windbreaks. They are planted and managed to protect livestock, enhance production, and control soil erosion. Windbreaks can help communities with harsh winter conditions better handle the impact of winter storms and reduce home heating costs during the winter months.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values. Charles Webber © California Academy of Sciences @ CalPhotos

Description

General: Pacific willow (Salix lasiandra) is a tall, slender, large shrub or small tree, fifteen to forty-five feet high (McMinn & Maino 1963). The leaves are long, thin, shiny, five to ten centimeters long with finely toothed edges. The fruits are thick catkins that are hairless, light reddish-brown, and six to eight millimeters long. The bark is furrowed with broad flat scaly plates. Distribution: Pacific willow is native along stream banks from British Columbia southward to southern California and New Mexico (McMinn & Maino 1963). For current distribution, please consult the Plant profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Adaptation

Salix lasiandra is a fast growing but short-lived tree. This species prefers a damp heavy soil but will succeed in most soils. This species is often found in riverbanks, floodplains, lakeshores, and wet meadows often standing in quiet river backwaters (MacKinnon, Pojar, & Coupe' 1992). It grows best in a sunny position scattered at low elevations along major rivers (Ibid.).

Establishment

Propagation from Seed: Seeds must be sown as soon as they are ripe in the spring, Seeds are viable for only a few days and the maximum storage period is four to six weeks with germination rates dropping off fast after ten days at room temperature (Dirr & Heuser 1987), Willow seeds have no dormancy and germinate within twelve to twenty-four hours after falling on moist ground (Ibid,), Seedbeds must be kept moist until seedlings are well established, Propagation from Cuttings: Hardwood cuttings can be collected and prepared for insertion, normally from November through March, Cuttings seven to ten inches long and a half to one inch thick are initially stuck close and dug after one year (Dirr & Heuser 1987), Willows have a rooting percentage of ninety to one-hundred percent and the rooting number is not promoted by rooting hormones (Ibid,), , Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Pacific Willow.

Management

Pacific willow is used to colonize disturbed sites for streambank stabilization projects. Cuttings are used for revegetating disturbed riparian areas to extract soil moisture and high amounts of carbohydrates. Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin) Available from wetland plant nurseries within its range. Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil

Conservation

Service) office for more information. Look in the phone book under ”United States Government.” The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading “Department of Agriculture.”

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Fire ToleranceHigh
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Cold Stratification RequiredYes
Drought ToleranceLow
Drought ToleranceNone
Drought ToleranceNone
Fertility RequirementLow
Fertility RequirementMedium
Fertility RequirementMedium
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Fire ToleranceHigh
Fire ToleranceMedium
Frost Free Days, Minimum120
Frost Free Days, Minimum185
Frost Free Days, Minimum80
Hedge ToleranceHigh
Hedge ToleranceLow
Temperature, Minimum (°F)7
CaCO3 ToleranceLow
CaCO3 ToleranceLow
CaCO3 ToleranceLow
Anaerobic ToleranceHigh
Anaerobic ToleranceHigh
Anaerobic ToleranceHigh
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Moisture UseHigh
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-43
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-30
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Salinity ToleranceNone
Salinity ToleranceNone
Salinity ToleranceLow
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)36
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)20
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)20
Precipitation, Minimum45
Precipitation, Minimum20
Precipitation, Minimum16
Precipitation, Maximum60
Precipitation, Maximum24
Hedge ToleranceLow
Moisture UseHigh
pH, Maximum7.0
pH, Maximum7.5
pH, Maximum7.5
pH, Minimum5.5
pH, Minimum5.5
pH, Minimum6.0
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim11000
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim11000
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim640
Planting Density per Acre, Minim2700
Planting Density per Acre, Minim2700
Planting Density per Acre, Minim320
Precipitation, Maximum36


Morphology/Physiology

Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
ToxicityNone
ToxicityNone
ToxicityNone
Foliage Porosity SummerModerate
Flower ColorGreen
Flower ConspicuousNo
Flower ConspicuousNo
Flower ConspicuousNo
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage Porosity SummerDense
Fire ResistantNo
Foliage Porosity SummerModerate
Foliage Porosity WinterModerate
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Foliage TextureCoarse
Foliage TextureCoarse
Foliage TextureMedium
Fruit/Seed ColorYellow
Coppice PotentialNo
Shape and OrientationErect
Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
BloatNone
BloatNone
BloatNone
C:N RatioHigh
C:N RatioHigh
Shape and OrientationErect
Coppice PotentialNo
Coppice PotentialYes
Fall ConspicuousNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
Fall ConspicuousYes
Fire ResistantNo
Fire ResistantNo
Low Growing GrassNo
Leaf RetentionNo
Leaf RetentionNo
Leaf RetentionNo
LifespanModerate
LifespanModerate
LifespanShort
Low Growing GrassNo
Low Growing GrassNo
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Nitrogen FixationNone
Nitrogen FixationNone
Nitrogen FixationNone
Resprout AbilityYes
Resprout AbilityYes
Resprout AbilityYes
Shape and OrientationDecumbent
Known AllelopathNo
Known AllelopathNo
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Growth FormMultiple Stem
Growth FormMultiple Stem
Growth FormThicket Forming
Growth RateModerate
Growth RateRapid
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (fee12
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (fee25
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (fee80
Height, Mature (feet)12.0
Height, Mature (feet)25.0
Height, Mature (feet)53.0
Known AllelopathNo
Growth RateRapid


Reproduction

Propagated by SprigsYes
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by SeedNo
Propagated by SeedNo
Propagated by CuttingsYes
Propagated by CuttingsYes
Propagated by CuttingsYes
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Fruit/Seed Period EndSummer
Propagated by TubersNo
Seed per Pound11000000
Seed per Pound11000000
Seed Spread RateRapid
Small GrainNo
Small GrainNo
Small GrainNo
Vegetative Spread RateModerate
Vegetative Spread RateSlow
Vegetative Spread RateSlow
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by CormNo
Bloom PeriodMid Spring
Bloom PeriodSpring
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSpring
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSpring
Fruit/Seed Period EndSummer
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Propagated by ContainerYes
Propagated by ContainerYes
Propagated by ContainerYes
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by Bare RootYes
Propagated by Bare RootYes
Propagated by Bare RootYes
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo


Suitability/Use

Palatable Browse AnimalMedium
Palatable Browse AnimalMedium
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable HumanYes
Post ProductNo
Post ProductNo
Post ProductNo
Protein PotentialLow
Protein PotentialLow
Pulpwood ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Palatable Browse AnimalLow
Lumber ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Nursery Stock ProductYes
Nursery Stock ProductYes
Nursery Stock ProductYes

Pacific Willow

Pacific Willow

Pacific Willow

Pacific Willow

Pacific Willow

[Plant Index] [Site Map]