Salix hookeriana
Coastal willow
no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Salicaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Salix hookeriana (Coastal willow) is a native California shrub / tree in the Salicaceae family, recognized by coastal habitat and dark brown bracts distinctive.
Coastal willow is a California native shrub found in northern coastal regions including Sonoma County, growing in coastal dunes, floodplains, and meadows at elevations from sea level to 1,000 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces small, delicate catkins with dark brown flower bracts. Growing as a compact shrub or small tree up to 8 meters tall, it develops twigs that range from gray to red or yellow-brown with a distinctive glaucous surface. Its leaves are elliptic to broadly obovate, measuring 46 to 113 millimeters long, with a varied texture ranging from white-hairy to rusty-white and featuring entire or finely serrated edges. Young specimens display particularly charming white or white-and-rusty hairy leaves that add visual interest to this coastal landscape plant.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; coastal habitat and dark brown bracts distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal dunes, floodplains, meadows
Elevation: < 100, 500-1000 m
California counties: Humboldt, Mendocino, Del Norte, Marin, Tehama, Shasta, Sonoma
Outside California: to Alaska
Bloom period
Salix hookeriana blooms Apr-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 hookeriana native to California?
Yes. Salix hookeriana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Salix hookeriana bloom?
Salix hookeriana blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Salix hookeriana grow?
Salix hookeriana occurs in Humboldt, Mendocino, Del Norte, Marin, Tehama, Shasta, Sonoma, at elevations of < 100, 500-1000 m.
What plant family does Salix hookeriana belong to?
Salix hookeriana is in the Salicaceae family, genus Salix.
What habitat does Salix hookeriana grow in?
Salix hookeriana grows in Coastal dunes, floodplains, meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.