Salix breweri
Brewer's willow
(c) Skyler K, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Salicaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Salix breweri (Brewer's willow) is a native California shrub / tree in the Salicaceae family, recognized by serpentine habitat and rolled leaf margins diagnostic.
Brewer's willow is a California native shrub found in the northern Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay Area, and northern and central South Coast Ranges in serpentine streamsides at elevations of 300 to 1,300 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces yellow to light rose flowers on leafy shoots before the leaves emerge. Growing to less than 4 meters tall with yellow to yellow-brown twigs covered in velvety or silky tomentose hairs, it develops a distinctive growth habit. Its leaves are strap-shaped to oblanceolate, 58 to 144 millimeters long, with a convex or wedge-shaped base and slightly rolled edges, covered in wavy hairs on the underside. The shrub's later stipules become leaf-like, adding to its complex and textured appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; serpentine habitat and rolled leaf margins diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentine streamsides
Elevation: 300-1300 m
Bloom period
Salix breweri blooms Mar-Apr.
How to tell it apart
vs Umbellularia: Willows have narrow leaves with no scent; crush bay laurel leaf for intense spicy aroma.; vs Baccharis: Willows have catkins; baccharis has fuzzy white seed heads and resinous stems.; vs Acacia: Willow leaves have one central vein; acacia leaves are compound with many small leaflets or modified into flat phyllodes.; vs Quercus: Willows have narrow flexible leaves; oaks have broader stiff leaves and produce acorns.; vs Schinus: Willow leaves are simple; pepper tree has compound leaves with 15-40 leaflets and peppery-scented crushed foliage.
Frequently asked questions
Is Salix breweri native to California?
Yes. Salix breweri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Salix breweri bloom?
Salix breweri blooms Mar-Apr.
What plant family does Salix breweri belong to?
Salix breweri is in the Salicaceae family, genus Salix.
What habitat does Salix breweri grow in?
Salix breweri grows in Serpentine streamsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.