Salix lasiandra var. caudata
Tail-leaf willow, Tail-Leaf Willow
(c) Ed Alverson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Salicaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Salix lasiandra var. caudata (Tail-leaf willow) is a native California shrub / tree in the Salicaceae family, recognized by leaf-like glands on petiole distinctive.
Tail-leaf willow is a California native shrub found in the Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, and Great Basin in wet meadows, lakeshores, and riverbanks at elevations of 35 to 3,050 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces white or grayish flowers on flexible branches. Growing with spreading stems up to 3 to 5 meters tall, it forms dense thickets in moist environments. Its leaves have distinctive petioles 4 to 15 millimeters long with leaf-like glands at the base, and mature blades covered in white to rusty-white soft, shaggy hairs that give the leaves a distinctive textured appearance. The shrub creates important riparian habitat, providing cover and stabilization along waterways.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; leaf-like glands on petiole distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, lakeshores, riverbanks
Elevation: 35-3050 m
Outside California: to Alaska, South Dakota, New Mexico
Bloom period
Salix lasiandra var. caudata blooms May-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 lasiandra var. caudata native to California?
Yes. Salix lasiandra var. caudata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Salix lasiandra var. caudata bloom?
Salix lasiandra var. caudata blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Salix lasiandra var. caudata belong to?
Salix lasiandra var. caudata is in the Salicaceae family, genus Salix.
What habitat does Salix lasiandra var. caudata grow in?
Salix lasiandra var. caudata grows in Wet meadows, lakeshores, riverbanks.
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.