Salix gooddingii
Goodding's willow
Overview
Salix gooddingii is a deciduous tree growing 30-50 feet (9-15 m) tall, occasionally taller, with a broad, open crown and one or several trunks. The bark is thick, rough, and yellow-brown to gray, deeply furrowed on old trunks. Narrow, lance-shaped leaves are 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) long and finely toothed, light green on both surfaces and turning yellow before falling. As in all willows, male and female catkins grow on separate trees, opening with the new leaves in spring, and the female catkins release tiny seeds borne on white cottony hairs. The wood is soft and brittle, and limbs break readily in storms. It grows along rivers, streams, irrigation ditches, and the margins of ponds in the arid Southwest, where its deep roots reach groundwater. Fast early growth makes it short-lived, often declining within 50 years. The plant tolerates seasonal flooding and alkaline soil but needs a steady water source.
Native Range
Salix gooddingii is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, from California and Nevada east to Texas and south into the Mexican Plateau. It grows along rivers, streams, springs, and irrigation channels in desert and semi-desert regions.Suggested Uses
Planted along streams, ponds, and in riparian restoration to stabilize banks and shade water. It is used for erosion control and as fast cover on wet ground. The catkins supply early pollen for bees, and the foliage supports willow-dependent insects and birds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height30' - 50'
Width/Spread25' - 40'
Reaches mature size in approximately 15 years
Bloom Information
Catkins open in spring, generally March to May, as the new leaves expand. Male and female catkins form on separate trees, the females ripening into capsules that shed cottony seed by early summer. Flowering is inconspicuous and lacks petals.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
light greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Salix gooddingii in full sun in moist to wet soil near a reliable water source, with a pH from 6.0 to 8.0. It needs abundant water and tolerates seasonal flooding, saline ground, and periods of standing water, but declines where the water table drops. The tree grows quickly from seed or from cuttings, which root easily in wet soil. Its brittle wood and shallow surface roots make it poorly suited to small or paved spaces. It is short-lived and prone to wind and storm damage as it ages. Little feeding is needed in moist, fertile ground.Pruning
Prune in late winter while dormant to remove dead, broken, or crossing limbs and to reduce storm risk. The tree resprouts vigorously from cut stems and can be coppiced or pollarded. Wounds on the soft wood heal slowly and can allow decay to enter.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter