Salix babylonica

Weeping willow

Family: Salicaceae · Type: tree · Not Native

Weeping willow is a naturalized tree found in central coastal California regions, including San Francisco Bay and Southern California, typically in disturbed places and around settlements at elevations below 50 meters. Flowering from February to May, this tree produces delicate yellow to red-brown catkins on pendulous branches with slender, gracefully arching form. Growing up to 16 meters tall, it develops distinctive pendent branches with yellow- to red-brown twigs that become smoother with age. Its lance-linear leaves measure 90 to 160 millimeters long, featuring finely sharp-serrate edges and a wedge-shaped base, with young leaves showing silky textures that become increasingly glabrous. Later leaf stipules become leaf-like, and the tree's elegant cascading branches make it a distinctive ornamental species.

Habitat: Disturbed places, around settlements

Bloom period: Feb-May

Elevation: probably < 50 m

Bioregions: SnFrB, SCo (see note)

California counties: Sonoma, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Butte, Santa Clara, Alameda, San Luis Obispo, Yolo, Marin

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.