Salix lasiandra var. lasiandra
Pacific willow
(c) Ed Alverson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Salicaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Salix lasiandra var. lasiandra (Pacific willow) is a native California shrub / tree in the Salicaceae family, recognized by 3-5 stamens and glandular features key.
Pacific willow is a California native shrub found in southern California and desert regions, commonly inhabiting wet meadows, shores, and seepage areas at elevations up to 2,715 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces delicate white flowers with slender catkins. Growing with flexible stems 1 to 3 meters tall, it forms dense thickets near water sources. Its leaves have distinctive petioles with spherical glands and feature white to rusty-white hairs, creating a soft, textured appearance along branches. In wet habitats, this willow provides critical habitat and stabilization for riparian ecosystems.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 29 sympatric species; 3-5 stamens and glandular features key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Wet meadows, shores, seepage areas
Elevation: < 2715 m
California counties: Tulare, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, San Diego, Shasta, Mono, Modoc, Mariposa, Calaveras, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lake, Madera, Napa, Sacramento, San Benito, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tuolumne, Yolo, Alameda, Alpine, Butte, Del Norte, Fresno, Humboldt, Inyo, Kern, Lassen, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Orange, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Sierra, Tehama, Trinity, Riverside, Stanislaus, Colusa
Outside California: to Alaska, New Mexico
Bloom period
Salix lasiandra var. lasiandra 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 lasiandra var. lasiandra native to California?
Yes. Salix lasiandra var. lasiandra is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Salix lasiandra var. lasiandra bloom?
Salix lasiandra var. lasiandra blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Salix lasiandra var. lasiandra grow?
Salix lasiandra var. lasiandra occurs in Tulare, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, San Diego, Shasta, Mono, Modoc and other counties, at elevations of < 2715 m.
What plant family does Salix lasiandra var. lasiandra belong to?
Salix lasiandra var. lasiandra is in the Salicaceae family, genus Salix.
What habitat does Salix lasiandra var. lasiandra grow in?
Salix lasiandra var. lasiandra grows in Common. Wet meadows, shores, seepage areas.
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.