Sandbar Willow
Salix interior
- Native to:
- Canada, Mexico, Tadzhikistan, United States
Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Salicaceae
- Genus:
- Salix
- Species:
- Salix interior
- USDA Symbol:
- SAIN3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 600 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, green
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- 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
Aristotelia fungivorella, Aristotelia salicifungiella, Buck Moth (Hemileuca maia), Caloptilia stigmatella, Ceanothus Silkmoth (Hyalophora euryalus), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Cecropis moth (Automeris cecrops), Columbia silk moth (Hyalophora columbia), Elegant Sheep Moth (Hemileuca eglanterina), Io moth (Automeris io), Kaslo silkmoth (Hyalophora "kasloensis"), Lebeau's silk moth (Rothschildia lebeau), Mendocino saturnia moth (Saturnia mendocino), Micrurapteryx salicifoliella, Nevada buck moth (Hemileuca nevadensis), Nevada buckmoth (Hemileuca nevadensis-complex), Phyllonorycter salicifoliella, Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Saturnia homogena, White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata), Acadian Hairstreak (Satyrium acadicum), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), Sylvan Hairstreak (Satyrium sylvinum), Viceroy (Basilarchia archippus), Weidemeyer's Admiral (Basilarchia weidemeyerii), Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Moths:Hyalophora gloveri Butterflies:Viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bees, butterflies, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from root crown and rhizomes following fire or top-kill.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, nutrient-poor, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found along riverbanks and floodplains
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 1–7 days
- Notes:
- Seeds are short-lived and must be sown immediately on moist soil; no pretreatment required. Light aids germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: None required
Establishment: S. boothii is found throughout western United States and Canada in montane and subalpine riparian areas. Cuttings are collected from stooling beds that are hedged to maintain juvenile wood that is straight and for ease of handling and sticking in field beds. Wild collections are also grown at our nursery and kept separated according to source.
Source: npn.rngr.net