Shining Willow
Salix lucida
- Native to:
- Canada, Labrador, Prince Edward I., United States
benoitrenaud (www.inaturalist.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Salicaceae
- Genus:
- Salix
- Species:
- Salix lucida
- USDA Symbol:
- SALU
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 900 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
Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Furcula scolopendrina, Gelechia caudatae, Herald (Scoliopteryx libatrix), Io moth (Automeris io), Nevada buck moth (Hemileuca nevadensis), Portland Phosphila (Pheosia portlandia), Red-humped caterpillar moth (Schizura concinna), Western furcula moth (Furcula occidentalis), White Satin Moth (Leucoma salicis), Lorquin's admiral (Basilarchia lorquini), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, birds, butterflies, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from the root crown and base following fire or cutting.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found along streams and wetlands
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds are short-lived and must be sown fresh on moist soil; they require light for germination and lose viability within weeks.
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