Salix laevigata
Red willow, Red Willow
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Salicaceae · Type: Tree · Native
Salix laevigata (Red willow) is a native California tree in the Salicaceae family, recognized by 5 stamens and tree form distinctive.
Red willow is a California native tree found in riverbanks, seepage areas, and lakeshores across California's central and coastal regions at elevations below 1,700 meters. Flowering from December to June, this tree produces delicate catkins with yellow or white flowers. Growing up to 20 meters tall with brittle branches, it features distinctive yellow- or red-brown twigs that become increasingly smooth with age. Its leaves are strap-shaped to lanceolate, measuring 53 to 190 millimeters long, with finely crenate edges and dense white or rusty-white undersides. The tree's young branches are notably hairy, with leaf petioles featuring small glands and leaves that range from white-hairy to glabrous with time.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 29 sympatric species; 5 stamens and tree form distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Riverbanks, seepage areas, lakeshores (subalkaline or brackish), canyons
Elevation: < 1700 m
California counties: Lake, San Diego, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Orange, Contra Costa, San Bernardino, Mendocino, Humboldt, Kern, Los Angeles, Ventura, Butte, Imperial, Solano, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Riverside, Santa Clara, Plumas, Monterey, Inyo, Madera, Alameda, Tulare, Yolo, Calaveras, Nevada, El Dorado, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Fresno, Tuolumne, Sutter, Napa, San Mateo, Sacramento, Merced, Tehama, Mariposa, Amador, Mono, Colusa, Placer, Marin, Shasta, Stanislaus, Glenn, Yuba, Sierra, San Francisco, Trinity, Santa Cruz, Alpine, Lassen
Outside California: southern Oregon, northern Nevada, Arizona, Mexico, northern Central America
Bloom period
Salix laevigata blooms Dec-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 laevigata native to California?
Yes. Salix laevigata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Salix laevigata bloom?
Salix laevigata blooms Dec-Jun.
Where in California does Salix laevigata grow?
Salix laevigata occurs in Lake, San Diego, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Orange, Contra Costa, San Bernardino, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of < 1700 m.
What plant family does Salix laevigata belong to?
Salix laevigata is in the Salicaceae family, genus Salix.
What habitat does Salix laevigata grow in?
Salix laevigata grows in Common. Riverbanks, seepage areas, lakeshores (subalkaline or brackish), canyons.
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.