United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Montana Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content




Appendix B - Woody Plant Characteristics (Willow)

Table 3
  • Size/Form.
  • Elevation Range: Low 2000 to 4500; Middle 4500 to 7000; High 7000 to 10,000.
  • Root Type.
  • Rooting Ability from Cuttings.
  • Availability in the field: Refers to natural occurrences in the region. Ranking is from least to greatest.
  • Riparian Zones: 1 = Toe zone; 2 = Bank zone; 3 = Overbank zone; 4 = Transitional zone; 5 = Upland zone.
  • U = Unknown.
Table 4
  • Commercial Availability: Refers to availability of species in the nursery trade.
  • Deposition Tolerance: Regrowth following shallow coverage by soil.
  • Flooding Tolerance: High tolerates 10 to 30+ days; Medium tolerates 6 to 10 days; Low tolerates 1 to 5 days or less.
  • Drought Tolerance: Resistance to drought relative to native sites.
  • Salinity Tolerance: Resistance to salinity relative to native vegetation on similar sites.
  • Wildlife Value/Miscellaneous Notes.
  • Plant Indicator Status: Based on occurance in wetland: OBL = Obligate; FACW = Facultative Wet; FAC = Facultative; FACU = Facultative Upland; Upland = Upland.
  • U = Unknown.
Woody Plant Characteristics Table 3
Species Size/ Form Elevation Range Root Type Rooting Ability from Cuttings Availability in Field Use in Riparian Zone
Salix Alba
White/Golden willow		 Medium to Large Tree Low to Middle Shallow to Deep Good Common 4
Salix amygdaloides
Peachleaf willow		 Small Tree Low Fibrous Very Good Common 4
Salix bebbiana
Bebb's willow		 Large Shrub Low to Middle Shallow to Deep Good Common 4
Salix boothii
Booth willow		 Medium Shrub Middle Shallow to Deep Moderate Very Common 2, 3
Salix drummondiana
Drummond willow		 Small to Medium Shrub Middle to High Shallow to Deep Good Common 2, 3
Salix exigua
Coyote willow		 Medium Shrub Low to Middle Rhizomatous Very Good Very Common 2, 3, 4
Salix geyeriana
Geyer willow		 Medium Shrub Middle Shallow to Deep Good Very Common 2, 3
Salix lasiandra
Pacific willow		 Small Tree Low to Middle Shallow to Deep Good Common 4
Salix lemmonii
Lemmon willow		 Small to Medium Shrub Low to Middle Shallow to Deep Good Fairly Common 2, 3
Salix lutea
Yellow willow		 Medium to Large Shrub Low Shallow to Deep Good Very Common 2, 3
Salix nigra
Black willow		 Large Tree Low to Middle Shallow to Deep Good Fairly Common 4
Salix planifolia Planeleaf willow Small Snrub Middle to High Shallow to Deep Moderate Fairly Common 2, 3
Salix prolixa
Mackenzie willow		 Small Tree Low to Middle Shallow to Deep Good Fairly Common 3
Salix scouleriana Scouler willow Large Shrub Low to Middle Shallow to Deep Need to treat with hormone Fairly Common 5 (upland willow)
Salix sitchensis
Sitka willow		 Small to Medium Tree Low to Middle Shallow to Deep Moderate Common 3

Woody Plant Characteristics Table 4
Species Commercial Availability Deposition Tolerance Flooding Tolerance Drought Tolerance Salinity Tolerance Wildlife Value/ Miscellaneous Notes Plant Indicator Status
Salix Alba
White/Golden willow		 Yes High High Medium Low to Medium Willows are good browse and provide excellent cover for many species. FACW
Salix amygdaloides
Peachleaf willow		 Yes - limited High High Low Medium Willows are good browse and provide excellent cover for many species. FACW
Salix bebbiana
Bebb's willow		 Yes - limited High High Low to Medium Low Willows are good browse and provide excellent cover for many species. FACW
Salix boothii
Booth willow		 Yes - limited High Medium to High Low to Medium Low Willows are good browse and provide excellent cover for many species. FACW
Salix drummondiana
Drummond willow		 Yes - limited High Medium to High Low to Medium Low Willows are good browse and provide excellent cover for many species. FACW
Salix exigua
Coyote willow		 Yes High Medium to High Low to Medium Low Willows are good browse and provide excellent cover for many species. OBL
Salix geyeriana
Geyer willow		 Yes - limited High Medium to High Low to Medium Low Willows are good browse and provide excellent cover for many species. OBL
Salix lasiandra
Pacific willow		 Yes High Medium to High Low to Medium Low Willows are good browse and provide excellent cover for many species. FACW
Salix lemmonii
Lemmon willow		 No High Medium to High Low to Medium Low Willows are good browse and provide excellent cover for many species. FACW
Salix lutea
Yellow willow		 Yes - limited High Medium to High Low to Medium Medium Willows are good browse and provide excellent cover for many species. FACW, OBL
Salix nigra
Black willow		 Yes High Medium to High Low to Medium Low to Medium Willows are good browse and provide excellent cover for many species. FACW, OBL
Salix planifolia Planeleaf willow No High Medium to High Low to Medium Low Willows are good browse and provide excellent cover for many species. OBL
Salix prolixa
Mackenzie willow		 Yes - limited High Medium to High Low to Medium Low Willows are good browse and provide excellent cover for many species. OBL
Salix scouleriana Scouler willow Yes High Medium to High Low to Medium High Willows are good browse and provide excellent cover for many species. FACU, FAC
Salix sitchensis
Sitka willow		 Yes - limited High Medium to High Low to Medium Low Willows are good browse and provide excellent cover for many species. FACW

Source: Bentrup and Hoag, 1998.

< Back to Users' Guide to Description, Propagation, and Establishment of Native Shrubs and Trees for Riparian Areas in the Intermountain West

Last Modified: 08/21/2008