Arctic Willow
Salix arctica
- Native to:
- Aleutian Is., Canada, China, Føroyar, Greenland, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Labrador, Russia, United States
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Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Salicaceae
- Genus:
- Salix
- Species:
- Salix arctica
- USDA Symbol:
- SAAR27
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 15 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Arctic woolly bear moth (Gynaephora groenlandica), Ross's tussock moth (Gynaephora rossii), Frigga fritillary (Clossiana frigga), Hecla sulphur (Colias hecla), Mountain Clouded Yellow (Colias nastes)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from root crown following fire; adapted to tundra fire regimes.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- thrives in cold, tundra environments
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 1–7 days
- Notes:
- Salix seeds are short-lived and must be sown fresh on moist soil surface with light; germination is rapid but viability drops quickly.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed in cold moist stratification for 30 days. Cuttings are 4 to 6 cm in length and 5 mm in caliper and are treated with 1000 ppm IBA powder.
Establishment: S. arctica is a circumpolar species found from Alaska south to Montana, Idaho, and Oregon and east to Newfoundland. It is also a circumboreal species, occurring south in North America through the Cascades and Rocky Mountains to California and New Mexico in alpine and subalpine zones. Propagation can be achieved both through seeds and cuttings, with cuttings showing a high germination rate of 95-98%.
Source: npn.rngr.net