Salix melanopsis
Dusky willow
(c) J Straka, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Salicaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Salix melanopsis (Dusky willow) is a native California shrub / tree in the Salicaceae family, recognized by clonal growth and tan bracts distinctive.
Dusky willow is a California native shrub found in the North Coast, Klamath Ranges, California Relief, Sierra Nevada, Sacramento Valley, and Modoc Plateau in streambank habitats, often growing among rocks at elevations of 620 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces delicate, small catkins with silky white to gray flowers. Growing as a clonal shrub up to 4 meters tall with gray-brown twigs that become smooth with age, it spreads by root-shoots with distinctive flexible branches. Its leaves are long and narrow, measuring 30 to 85 millimeters, linear to narrow-elliptic with wavy, soft hairs and occasionally finely serrated edges. The shrub's young leaves are notably long-soft-wavy-hairy, giving the plant a distinctive soft, textured appearance in riparian environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 27 sympatric species; clonal growth and tan bracts distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Streambanks, often among rocks
Elevation: 620-2700 m
California counties: Lake, Humboldt, Nevada, Mendocino, Tuolumne, Sonoma, Monterey, Butte, Riverside, Placer, Plumas, Fresno, Kern, Tulare, Stanislaus, San Bernardino, Del Norte, Tehama, Shasta, Los Angeles, Ventura, Inyo, Siskiyou, Lassen, Trinity, El Dorado, Modoc, Napa, Marin, Merced, Santa Clara, San Benito, Amador, Sierra, Sacramento, Mariposa, Alameda, Mono, Glenn, Solano, Alpine, Madera, Colusa, Calaveras, Yuba, San Luis Obispo, Kings, Yolo
Outside California: to western Canada, Colorado, Nevada
Bloom period
Salix melanopsis blooms May-Jul.
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 melanopsis native to California?
Yes. Salix melanopsis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Salix melanopsis bloom?
Salix melanopsis blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Salix melanopsis grow?
Salix melanopsis occurs in Lake, Humboldt, Nevada, Mendocino, Tuolumne, Sonoma, Monterey, Butte and other counties, at elevations of 620-2700 m.
What plant family does Salix melanopsis belong to?
Salix melanopsis is in the Salicaceae family, genus Salix.
What habitat does Salix melanopsis grow in?
Salix melanopsis grows in Streambanks, often among rocks.
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.