Arroyo Willow

Salix lasiolepis

William & Wilma Follette @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. Western wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. West Region, Sacramento, CA.

Taxonomy

Division:: Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:: Salicaceae
Genus:: Salix
Species:: Salix lasiolepis

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Shrub , Tree
Height:: 20-40 ft
Light Requirements:: Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:: High
Bloom Months:: jan, feb, mar, apr, may, jun
Bloom Colors:: Yellow, Purple

Native Range

United States: Arizona, California, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:: ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Bee Keystone:: ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of native bee species using this genus for pollen and nectar (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Acleris hastiana, Acleris senescens, Agonopterix argillacea, Argyresthia sp., Batrachedra salicipomonella, Batrachedra striolata, Caloptilia palustriella, Coleophora sp. A, Coleotechnites gallicola, Coptodisca saliciella, Epinotia columbia, Epinotia keiferana, fruit-tree leafroller (Archips argyrospila), Marmara salictella, Nevada buck moth (Hemileuca nevadensis), Obliquebanded leafroller (Choristoneura rosaceana), orange tortrix moth (Argyrotaenia franciscana), Pandemis leafroller (Pandemis pyrusana), Phyllonorycter apicinigrella, Stigmella sp. C, Lorquin's admiral (Basilarchia lorquini), Sylvan Hairstreak (Satyrium sylvinum), Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: rich, moisture-retentive loamy soil
pH:: 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:: tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:: consistently moist
Notes:: Commonly found in riparian zones and wetlands

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Cuttings are dipped in a mild bleach solution for 30 seconds, recut to include 3 nodes (5 inches long), treated with Hormex (3000 ppm IBA) rooting powder, and struck in flats containing 3:1 Perlite/Vermiculite.

Establishment: Hardwood cuttings are collected between December 15th and January 31st. Cutting diameter is 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch and length is 10 inches. S. lasiolepis is found below 7,000 feet elevation and is common along streams, from Washington south to California and east to Idaho and New Mexico.

Source: npn.rngr.net