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Salix lasiolepis

arroyo willow

Salicaceae Western North America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 6–10

Overview

Salix lasiolepis is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the willow family, commonly 6-25 feet (1.8-7.6 m) tall, sometimes to 35 feet (10.7 m), forming a thicket of slender, upright stems from a spreading root system. The narrow leaves are 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) long, dark green above and pale to whitish-hairy below, widest above the middle with smooth or slightly toothed edges. As with all willows it is dioecious, with male and female catkins on separate plants. Catkins 0.75-2 inches (2-5 cm) long appear from late winter into spring, often before the leaves, the male catkins yellow with pollen. Native to streamsides, springs, and wet bottomlands of the western United States and Mexico, it roots quickly from cuttings and tolerates seasonal flooding. It spreads by root sprouts to form colonies that stabilize stream banks and shade water. The wood is soft and brittle, and stems are short-lived but readily renewed. It needs steady moisture and full sun.

Native Range

Native to the western United States and northern Mexico, from Washington and Idaho south to Texas and into Baja California. It grows along streams, springs, seeps, canyon bottoms, and other wet ground.

Suggested Uses

Salix lasiolepis is used in streambank stabilization, wetland and riparian restoration, and erosion control on wet sites. It gives cover and browse for wildlife, and the early catkins are an important pollen source for bees. It is too vigorous and thicket-forming for small gardens.

How to Identify

Look for a thicket of slender upright stems and narrow leaves that are dark green above and pale or whitish-hairy below, widest above the middle. Catkins appear in late winter and early spring, often before the leaves. The plant is almost always found in or near wet ground.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 35'

Width/Spread6' - 20'

Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Winter Spring

Catkins open from February through April, often before the leaves emerge. Male and female catkins grow on separate plants, the males yellow with pollen. Female catkins release tiny cottony seeds in mid to late spring.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

clay loam sand

Drainagewet

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Salix lasiolepis grows in full sun and moist to wet soils, including clay, loam, and sand along watercourses, and tolerates seasonal flooding. It needs steady moisture and declines in dry ground. The plant roots easily from dormant cuttings pushed into wet soil. It spreads by root sprouts, so it suits stream banks and erosion control more than small gardens. Stems are brittle and benefit from periodic renewal pruning.

Pruning

Pruning is done in late winter while dormant, removing dead or broken stems and cutting older stems to the base to renew the thicket. The plant resprouts strongly from cut stumps and roots. It tolerates coppicing every few years.

Pruning Schedule

winter