Salix scouleriana, Scouler’s willow
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Broadleaf Deciduous Trees

Salix scouleriana

Scouler’s willow

Salicaceae

Alaska south through BC, Washington, Oregon to California; dry forest interiors, forest edges, disturbed sites, stream banks, and subalpine meadow margins

At a Glance

TypeShrub
HabitUpright
FoliageDeciduous
Height6-25 feet (1.8-7.6 m)
Width6-15 feet (1.8-4.6 m)
Maturity10 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

3 - 9
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
Zone 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators
Attracts Butterflies
Drought Tolerant
Native to North America
Maintenancelow

Overview

A large, upright, deciduous shrub to small tree in the family Salicaceae, native to a wide range of habitats across the Pacific Northwest including dry forest interiors, forest edges, disturbed sites, stream banks, and subalpine meadow margins from Alaska south through British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon to California — the most ecologically versatile and drought-tolerant of the native Pacific Northwest willows. Named for Scottish botanist John Scouler, who collected specimens in the Columbia River region in 1825. Unlike the majority of native PNW willows, which require consistently moist to wet riparian conditions, Salix scouleriana tolerates dry upland forest conditions. Plants grow 6–25 feet (1.8–7.6 m) tall with stout, upright branches. The leaves are distinctly oval to obovate — widest at or above the middle — 1–3 inches (2.5–8 cm) long, dark green above and densely covered with rusty to tawny hairs beneath. Salix scouleriana is dioecious and blooms before leaf-out in February–April, with silvery-gray male catkins (pussy willows) emerging directly from the bare branches — one of the earliest sources of pollen for native bees in the PNW.

Native Range

Native to dry forest interiors, forest edges, disturbed sites, stream banks, and subalpine meadow margins from Alaska south through British Columbia, Washington, Oregon to California.

Suggested Uses

One of the most versatile native PNW willows for landscape use — suitable for dry to moist conditions and large shrub to small tree form. Plant at forest edges, disturbed ground restoration sites, and native hedgerows at 8–15 foot (2.4–4.6 m) spacing. The silvery-gray catkins (pussy willows) February–April are ornamentally attractive and provide the earliest pollen available to native bees. Valuable for beaver, deer, elk, and numerous native lepidoptera larvae. Of educational value for demonstrating the range of habitat tolerance within Salix and the pre-vernal (before leaf-out) catkin strategy.

How to Identify

Identified as a large shrub to small tree distinguished from other native PNW willows by three characters: (1) LEAVES OVAL TO OBOVATE — widest at or above the middle, not narrowly lanceolate; (2) DENSE RUSTY TO TAWNY HAIRS on leaf undersides; (3) CATKINS EMERGE BEFORE LEAVES in February–April on bare branches — the silvery-gray male catkins (pussy willows) are among the earliest flowers in the PNW. Scouleriana = named for botanist John Scouler. Most drought-tolerant native PNW willow — found in dry forest interiors, not just riparian margins. Dioecious.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 25'
Width/Spread6' - 15'

Reaches mature size in approximately 10 years

Colors

Flower Colors

gray
yellow
green

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks
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Spring
One of the earliest-flowering native PNW shrubs, bearing catkins in February through April before the leaves emerge — the silvery-gray male catkins (pussy willows) are a characteristic early-spring sight. Male catkins elongate and become yellow with pollen; female catkins are greenish. Dioecious — male and female catkins on separate plants. Cottony seed capsules disperse in April–May. Provides critically important early-season pollen for native bees and bumblebee queens.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

CATKINS BEFORE LEAVES Feb–Apr — silvery-gray male catkins (pussy willows) on bare branches; male become yellow with pollen; female greenish; DIOECIOUS; cottony seed dispersal Apr–May; critical early-season pollen for native bees; rewrote curly-brace marketing prose

Foliage Description

dark green above; DENSE RUSTY TO TAWNY HAIRS beneath — woolly feel, reliable field character; OVAL TO OBOVATE — widest at or above middle (not narrow-lanceolate); 1–3 inches; scouleriana = named for John Scouler; MOST DROUGHT-TOLERANT native PNW willow — dry forest interior tolerant; DATA CORRECTIONS: scientific_name hyphen; species null

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Partial Shade
Requires 3-10 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
loamsandclayrocky
Drainage
well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

5-10 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant in full sun to partial shade in well-drained to moist, acidic to neutral soil with a pH of 5.5–7.5. The most drought-tolerant native PNW willow — tolerates dry upland forest soils, average garden conditions, and disturbed sites in addition to moist riparian margins. Spreads by root sprouts. Fast-growing pioneer. Roots less aggressive than Salix lasiandra but keep away from water lines and foundations as a precaution.

Pruning

Prune in late winter after catkins finish. Can be cut back hard for multi-stem shrub form or to control size. Remove root sprouts from unwanted areas. Tolerates hard pruning well.

Pruning Schedule

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late spring

Maintenance Level

low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic
Salix scouleriana (Scouler’s willow) - Identification & Care Guide | PlantRef