Native Plants
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Salix sitchensis
Salix sitchensis Sanson ex Bong.
Sitka Willow
Salicaceae (Willow Family)
Synonym(s): Salix coulteri, Salix cuneata, Salix sitchensis var. congesta, Salix sitchensis var. denudata, Salix sitchensis var. parviflora, Salix sitchensis var. ralphiana
USDA Symbol: SASI2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)
Usually a large shrub or small tree, much-branched with rounded crown; a low shrub in exposed places.
Sitka Willow is easily recognized by the satiny sheen on the lower leaf surfaces. Native peoples used the flexible twigs for basketmaking and for stretching skins, and the pounded bark to heal wounds. As the smoke from Sitka Willow fires does not have a bad odor, the wood is used in drying fish. This species is named for Sitka, in southeastern Alaska, where it was first collected.
From the Image Gallery
No images of this plant
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 25 feet tall.
Leaf: Yellow-Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Green , BrownBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun
Distribution
USA: AK , CA , ID , MT , OR , WACanada: BC
Native Distribution: Pacific Coast from SW. Alaska southeast to central California and east in mountains to W. Montana and central Alberta; mostly near sea level; inland locally to 5000' (1524 m).
Native Habitat: Moist soils, along beaches and streams and in open areas through coastal coniferous forests.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: HighLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FAC | FACW | FACW | FACW |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Salix sitchensis in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Salix sitchensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Salix sitchensis
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-12-14Research By: TWC Staff