Fauna
Plant

Red Willow

Salix laevigata

Also known as Polished Willow

Red willow anchors stream banks and wetland margins across the arid Southwest, recognizable by its lustrous, polished twigs that glow red to yellowish brown in winter sunlight. In early spring, catkins emerge alongside slender leaves with distinctive glaucous undersides, offering an essential early nectar source for emerging native pollinators. Its extensive root networks reinforce riparian corridors against flash floods while creating shaded river habitat vital to fish and nesting songbirds.

RiparianDeciduousNative Tree
Red Willow reference
(c) Zack Abbey, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Zack Abbey · cc-by
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
  • North American Beaver
  • Mule Deer
  • Willow Leaf Beetle
ThreatsGroundwater depletion, stream channelization, and invasive tamarisk competition
HabitatsStream banks, canyons, floodplains, and riparian washes
Life span40–75 years
Classification
  1. OrderMalpighiales
  2. FamilySalicaceae
  3. GenusSalix
  4. SpeciesSalix laevigata
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Twig Inspection: Look closely at new growth in late winter to see the glossy, reddish bark that gives the tree its name.
  • Birdwatching: Search dense willow thickets during spring migration for warblers and flycatchers foraging among catkins.
  • Habitat Care: Avoid trampling fragile bank edges where young saplings stabilize water channels against erosion.
Related species
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