Dusky Willow
Salix melanopsis
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Matt Lavin (www.flickr.com) from Bozeman, Montana, USA
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Salicaceae
- Genus:
- Salix
- Species:
- Salix melanopsis
- USDA Symbol:
- SAME2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 400 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- 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)
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
Acleris hastiana, Anacampsis sacramenta, 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), Filatima saliciphaga, fruit-tree leafroller (Archips argyrospila), 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), Pandemis leafroller (Pandemis pyrusana), 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)
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 following fire or mechanical damage.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, nutrient-rich alluvial 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:
- 7–28 days
- Notes:
- Willow seeds are short-lived and must be sown fresh on moist soil; they require light for germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI