Salix exigua var. exigua
Narrow-leaved willow, coyote willow, Coyote Willow
Photo: parent species Salix exigua · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Salicaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Salix exigua var. exigua (Narrow-leaved willow) is a native California shrub in the Salicaceae family, recognized by clonal growth and narrow leaves distinctive.
Narrow-leaved willow is a California native shrub found in the Sierra Nevada, Mojave Desert, and Mono Plateaus along shorelines, river bars, and gravelly areas at elevations below 2,800 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces small, delicate flowers with soft, silky catkins. Growing with multiple slender stems 1 to 3 meters tall, it forms dense thickets in riparian zones. Its leaves are characterized by petioles densely covered in short, spreading hairs and blades with long, soft, silky undersides that appear wavy or straight. The small capsule-like fruits measure 4 to 8 millimeters in length, contributing to its ability to colonize disturbed riverside habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 22 sympatric species; clonal growth and narrow leaves distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Shores, bars, silt, sand, gravel
Elevation: < 2800 m
California counties: Inyo, Riverside, Mono, Imperial, Tehama, Butte, Lake, Mendocino, San Bernardino, Siskiyou, San Diego, Los Angeles, Humboldt, Plumas
Outside California: to British Columbia, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Texas, Mexico
Bloom period
Salix exigua var. exigua blooms Mar-Jun.
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 exigua var. exigua native to California?
Yes. Salix exigua var. exigua is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Salix exigua var. exigua bloom?
Salix exigua var. exigua blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Salix exigua var. exigua grow?
Salix exigua var. exigua occurs in Inyo, Riverside, Mono, Imperial, Tehama, Butte, Lake, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of < 2800 m.
What plant family does Salix exigua var. exigua belong to?
Salix exigua var. exigua is in the Salicaceae family, genus Salix.
What habitat does Salix exigua var. exigua grow in?
Salix exigua var. exigua grows in Common. Shores, bars, silt, sand, gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.