Salix lasiolepis
Arroyo willow
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Salicaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Salix lasiolepis (Arroyo willow) is a native California shrub / tree in the Salicaceae family, recognized by most widespread; dark brown bracts and rolled leaves.
Arroyo willow is a native shrub found in California's diverse habitats, including shores, marshes, meadows, and springs at elevations up to 2,800 meters. Flowering from January to June, this plant produces small, delicate catkins with yellow-green to yellow-brown twigs. Growing as a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree up to 10 meters tall, it has flexible branches that are notably brittle at the base. Its leaves are distinctive, with strap-shaped to elliptic blades 35 to 125 millimeters long, covered in white or white and rusty soft hairs, and ranging from entire to irregularly serrate. The shrub's mature leaves often curl slightly under, creating a unique textural appearance in riparian landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 29 sympatric species; most widespread; dark brown bracts and rolled leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Abundant. Shores, marshes, meadows, springs, bluffs
Elevation: < 2800 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Sutter, San Luis Obispo, Kern, San Diego, Riverside, Modoc, Orange, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Tulare, Butte, Tuolumne, San Benito, Napa, Stanislaus, Lake, Fresno, Madera, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, Mariposa, Humboldt, Nevada, Sonoma, Mendocino, San Francisco, Inyo, Monterey, Sacramento, Contra Costa, Yolo, Placer, El Dorado, Trinity, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Mono, Lassen, San Joaquin, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Tehama, Glenn, Calaveras, Amador, Marin, Plumas, Colusa, Kings, Yuba, Alpine, Solano, Sierra
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho, Texas, Mexico
Bloom period
Salix lasiolepis blooms Jan-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 lasiolepis native to California?
Yes. Salix lasiolepis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Salix lasiolepis bloom?
Salix lasiolepis blooms Jan-Jun.
Where in California does Salix lasiolepis grow?
Salix lasiolepis occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Sutter, San Luis Obispo, Kern, San Diego, Riverside, Modoc and other counties, at elevations of < 2800 m.
What plant family does Salix lasiolepis belong to?
Salix lasiolepis is in the Salicaceae family, genus Salix.
What habitat does Salix lasiolepis grow in?
Salix lasiolepis grows in Abundant. Shores, marshes, meadows, springs, bluffs.
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.