Alpine willow
Salix arctica
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Alpine willow (Salix arctica) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
2"–6" H × 12"–36" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul
Native to
WA
Pollinators
bees
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A dwarf, prostrate alpine willow that hugs the ground with woody stems and small catkins in a tight, low mat. Its scale suits only a rock garden or alpine trough rather than a typical yard.
Wildlife value
Host plant for mourning cloak.
Its short-season catkins are an important early nectar and pollen source for bees at high elevation, and the foliage hosts mourning cloak caterpillars.
Common questions
- How much sun does Alpine willow need?
- Alpine willow grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Alpine willow bloom?
- Alpine willow blooms in June and July.
- Where is Alpine willow native?
- Alpine willow (Salix arctica) is native to WA, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What butterflies or moths does Alpine willow host?
- Alpine willow is a larval host plant for mourning cloak.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Alpine willow? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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