Salix purpurea
Basket willow, Basket Willow
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Family: Salicaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Not Native
Salix purpurea (Basket willow) is a non-native California shrub / tree in the Salicaceae family, recognized by but distinctive opposite leaf arrangement and single stamen.
Basket willow is a naturalized shrub found in the northern California Coast bioregion around Humboldt Bay settlements at elevations below 20 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces small, understated flowers on branches before leaves emerge. Growing as a shrub to small tree up to 5 meters tall, it features flexible twigs in yellow, gray, or olive-brown with a distinctive violet tinge. Its leaves are primarily oblanceolate, 35 to 77 millimeters long, with entire or finely serrated edges and a smooth surface. The shrub's slender, flexible stems and ability to grow near human settlements make it an adaptable introduced species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species but distinctive opposite leaf arrangement and single stamen
Habitat and range
Habitat: Around settlements
Elevation: probably < 20 m
California counties: Humboldt
Outside California: to Canada, southeastern United States, native to Asia
Bloom period
Salix purpurea blooms Mar-May.
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 purpurea native to California?
No. Salix purpurea is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Salix purpurea bloom?
Salix purpurea blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Salix purpurea grow?
Salix purpurea occurs in Humboldt, at elevations of probably < 20 m.
What plant family does Salix purpurea belong to?
Salix purpurea is in the Salicaceae family, genus Salix.
What habitat does Salix purpurea grow in?
Salix purpurea grows in Around settlements.
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.