Family: Salicaceae, Willow view all from this family

Description Usually a thicket-forming shrub with clustered stems; sometimes a small tree with slender, erect branches forming narrow, irregular crown.
Height: 30' (9 m).
Diameter: 6" (15 cm).
Leaves: 2 1/2-4" (6-10 cm) long, 3/8-3/4" (1-2 cm) wide. Narrow, reverse lance-shaped, short- or blunt-pointed at ends, broadest beyond middle; without teeth or slightly wavy with few small teeth, thick and leathery. Dark green and hairless above, whitish and usually hairy beneath.
Bark: pale gray-brown and whitish areas; smooth, becoming darker, rough, and furrowed into broad ridges.
Twigs: yellow to brown, finely hairy.
Flowers: catkins 1-2" (2.5-5 cm) long; black or brown scales with dense, long, white hairs; almost stalkless; in early spring before or with leaves.
Fruit: 1/4" (6 mm) long; light reddish-brown, hairless capsules, crowded; maturing in late spring.

Habitat Wet soils along streams and arroyos, or gullies, in valleys, foothills, and mountains.

Range Washington and Idaho south to S. California and New Mexico; also in N. Mexico; to 7500' (2286 m).

Discussion The name "White Willow" may come from the light-colored bark and leaves with whitish lower surfaces. The scientific name, meaning "shaggy scale," refers to the white hairs on the scales of the flowers.