Salix drummondiana
Drummond's willow
(c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Salicaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Salix drummondiana (Drummond's willow) is a native California shrub in the Salicaceae family, recognized by only willow in its range.
Drummond's willow is a California native shrub found in the central Sierra Nevada and White and Inyo Mountains in streamsides, wet meadows, and subalpine red-fir forest at elevations of 2,200 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces silky white to rusty-white flowers on leafy shoots. Growing as a shrub less than 5 meters tall with distinctive red- or mottled yellow-brown twigs that are brittle at the base, it develops strongly glaucous branches that become smooth with age. Its leaves are strap-shaped to elliptic, 40 to 85 millimeters long, with dense white or white-and-rusty silky hairs, and margins that are entire to shallowly crenate and slightly rolled under. The plant's young leaves are particularly notable for their white- or white-and-rusty silky texture, creating a soft, distinctive appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; only willow in its range
Habitat and range
Habitat: Streamsides, wet meadows, subalpine red-fir forest
Elevation: 2200-3000 m
Outside California: to western Canada, Nevada, New Mexico
Bloom period
Salix drummondiana blooms Apr-Jul.
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 drummondiana native to California?
Yes. Salix drummondiana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Salix drummondiana bloom?
Salix drummondiana blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Salix drummondiana belong to?
Salix drummondiana is in the Salicaceae family, genus Salix.
What habitat does Salix drummondiana grow in?
Salix drummondiana grows in Streamsides, wet meadows, subalpine red-fir forest.
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.