Downy Willow
Salix lapponum
- Native to:
- Baltic States, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czechia-Slovakia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Kazakhstan, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine
Robert Matthews,Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova,Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,Wallin H, Kvamme T, Bergsten J (2017) To be or not to be a subspecies: description of Saperda populnea lapponica ssp. n. (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) developing in downy willow (Salix lapponum L.). ZooKeys 691: 103-148. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.691.1,User:Momo,Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova,Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Salicaceae
- Genus:
- Salix
- Species:
- Salix lapponum
- USDA Symbol:
- SALA21
Growth Characteristics
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, green
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
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)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Hummingbirds: Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, birds, caterpillars
- Fall Color:
- yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from base after fire or mechanical damage, typical of willows.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, peaty, nutrient-rich soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Thrives in cold, wet environments
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Salix seeds are short-lived and require immediate sowing on moist substrate; light enhances germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI