Plant · GBIF taxon 5372832
Sitka willow
Salix sitchensisAlso known as Satin Willow, Silky Willow
Sitka willow forms dense, shrubby thickets along stream banks, wetlands, and coastal margins throughout northwestern North America. Its distinctive leaves feature smooth, dark green upper surfaces contrasted by velvety, silvery-white undersides clad in dense silky hairs. During early spring, long erect catkins open before or as new leaves unfold, providing crucial early pollen for emerging native pollinators.
WetlandNativeDeciduous
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Beavers
- Elk
- Moose
ThreatsHabitat destruction, river damming, invasive plant competition
HabitatsRiparian corridors, wetlands, lake margins, wet forest edges
Life span30–50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySalicaceae
- SpeciesSalix sitchensis
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.
Responsible observation
- Leaf Check: Flip leaves over to inspect the dense, satiny silvery-white hairs beneath.
- Spring Observation: Look for fuzzy erect catkins appearing in early spring before leaves expand.
- Habitat Spotting: Search along riverbanks, lake margins, and moist ditch edges.
Herbivore (c) Rodney Campbell, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, United States / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative Wikimedia Commons / Public domain · cc0
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