Salix sitchensis
Sitka willow, Sitka Willow
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Family: Salicaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Salix sitchensis (Sitka willow) is a native California shrub / tree in the Salicaceae family, recognized by but distinctive single stamen and strongly revolute leaves with dense pubescence.
Sitka willow is a native shrub found in northwestern California, northern Sierra Nevada, coastal western California, and western Transverse Ranges in tidal swamps, marshes, springs, and streambeds at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering in March, this plant produces catkins with yellow, gray, or red-brown flowers on flexible stems. Growing as a small shrub or tree up to 8 meters tall with yellow-, gray-, or red-brown twigs that are silky or long-soft-wavy-hairy. Its leaves are oblanceolate to obovate, 31 to 120 millimeters long, with dense silky or woolly undersides and strongly rolled edges. The plant's distinctive leaf stipules become leaf-like as the plant matures, and its twigs are notably flexible with varied hair textures.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 26 sympatric species but distinctive single stamen and strongly revolute leaves with dense pubescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Tidal swamps, marshes, springs, streambeds
Elevation: < 400 m (1800-2500 m in Siskiyou, Humboldt cos.)
California counties: Humboldt, Sonoma, Del Norte, Mendocino, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Marin, Santa Clara, Siskiyou, San Francisco, Plumas, Nevada, San Joaquin, Napa, Butte, Santa Barbara, Trinity, Lake, Mariposa
Outside California: to Alaska, Alberta
Bloom period
Salix sitchensis blooms Mar.
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 sitchensis native to California?
Yes. Salix sitchensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Salix sitchensis bloom?
Salix sitchensis blooms Mar.
Where in California does Salix sitchensis grow?
Salix sitchensis occurs in Humboldt, Sonoma, Del Norte, Mendocino, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Monterey, Santa Cruz and other counties, at elevations of < 400 m (1800-2500 m in Siskiyou, Humboldt cos.).
What plant family does Salix sitchensis belong to?
Salix sitchensis is in the Salicaceae family, genus Salix.
What habitat does Salix sitchensis grow in?
Salix sitchensis grows in Common. Tidal swamps, marshes, springs, streambeds.
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.