Plant · GBIF taxon 5372559
Narrowleaf Willow
Salix exiguaAlso known as Coyote Willow, Sandbar Willow, Narrow-leaved Willow
Narrowleaf Willow spreads through aggressive underground root runners to form dense, silvery-green thickets along river sandbars and stream channels. Its exceptionally long, slender leaves rustle softly in gentle breezes while providing crucial shade and root reinforcement that holds eroding riverbanks together. In early spring, bright yellow catkins emerge alongside the fresh foliage, attracting dense clouds of emerging native bees and pollinators.
RiparianThicket-formingDeciduous
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthetic (autotroph)
Predators
- North American Beaver
- Elk
- White-tailed Deer
ThreatsWater diversion, dam construction, invasive riparian plants
HabitatsRiver sandbars, stream banks, floodplain thickets, moist gravelly soil
Life span30–50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderMalpighiales
- FamilySalicaceae
- GenusSalix
- SpeciesSalix exigua
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Recognize it by its dense thicket habit, grayish-green bark, and extremely narrow leaves under one centimeter wide.
- Support conservation
- Avoid trampling soft riverbanks or breaking stems, as thickets protect delicate shoreline soil from washing away.
Responsible observation
- Spotting foliage: Look for exceptionally narrow leaves up to ten times longer than they are wide with fine, distant teeth.
- Checking riverbanks: Search sunny sandbars and gravel benches where recent flooding exposed bare mineral soil.
- Observing spring blooms: Watch the upright fuzzy catkins in early spring for early-emerging wild pollinators.
Frequent Companion (c) Daniel Z, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Wikimedia Commons / Public domain · cc0
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