Salix tracyi
Tracy's willow
Family: Salicaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Salix tracyi (Tracy's willow) is a native California shrub / tree in the Salicaceae family, recognized by but distinctive glabrous mature leaves and strap-shaped form.
Tracy's willow is a California native shrub found in northern coastal California on shores and floodplains of rivers and creeks, often in sandy or gravelly serpentine habitats at elevations of 90 to 460 meters. Flowering from April to May, this willow produces small flowers with yellow-brown bracts arranged in catkins. Growing 1 to 6 meters tall with yellow- to red-brown twigs, it develops slender stems that become glabrous with age. Its leaves are distinctive, measuring 55 to 96 millimeters long and ranging from strap-shaped to oblanceolate, with mature blades that can be entire, wavy, or minutely serrate and often slightly rolled under. Young leaves are white- or white-and-rusty-hairy, while mature leaves can be glabrous or covered in white tomentose hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species but distinctive glabrous mature leaves and strap-shaped form
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shores, floodplains of rivers, creeks; sandy, gravelly, rocky, often serpentine
Elevation: 90-460 m
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Salix tracyi blooms Apr-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 tracyi native to California?
Yes. Salix tracyi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Salix tracyi bloom?
Salix tracyi blooms Apr-May.
What plant family does Salix tracyi belong to?
Salix tracyi is in the Salicaceae family, genus Salix.
What habitat does Salix tracyi grow in?
Salix tracyi grows in Shores, floodplains of rivers, creeks; sandy, gravelly, rocky, often serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Salix alba — White willow
- Salix babylonica — Weeping willow
- Salix bebbiana — Bebb's willow
- Salix boothii — Booth's willow
- Salix brachycarpa var. brachycarpa — Short-fruited willow
- Salix breweri — Brewer's willow
- Populus alba — White poplar
- Populus angustifolia — Narrow-leaved cottonwood
- Populus fremontii subsp. fremontii — Alamo or fremont cottonwood
- Populus nigra — Black poplar
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.