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Native Plant Database

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Salix sitchensis Sanson ex Bong.

Sitka willow

Salicaceae (Willow Family)

USDA Symbol: SASI2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Usually a large shrub or small tree, much-branched with rounded crown; a low shrub in exposed places.

Sitka Willow is easily recognized by the satiny sheen on the lower leaf surfaces. Native peoples used the flexible twigs for basketmaking and for stretching skins, and the pounded bark to heal wounds. As the smoke from Sitka Willow fires does not have a bad odor, the wood is used in drying fish. This species is named for Sitka, in southeastern Alaska, where it was first collected.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf: Yellow-Green
Flower:
Fruit:

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , ID , MT , OR , WA
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: Pacific Coast from SW. Alaska southeast to central California and east in mountains to W. Montana and central Alberta; mostly near sea level; inland locally to 5000 (1524 m).
Native Habitat: Moist soils, along beaches and streams and in open areas through coastal coniferous forests.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Salix sitchensis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Salix sitchensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Salix sitchensis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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