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Arroyo Willow

Salix lasiolepis

The common riparian willow of California and the Southwest, anchoring arroyos and creek banks. Among the very first plants to bloom, fueling early-season pollinators.

Family
Salicaceae
Type
shrub
Lifespan
perennial
Height
10–30 ft
Spacing
10–20 ft apart
Light
sun, part shade
Soil moisture
moist, wet
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline
Bloom
February, March, April
Bloom colors
yellow, green
Wildlife value
pollinators, songbirds, butterflies, larval host
Caterpillar hosts
~455 butterfly & moth species
Landscape uses
specimen, hedge or screen, rain garden
Native states
AZ, CA, ID, NV, OR, TX, UT, WA