What growing conditions does Bebb willow need?

Bebb willow does best in full sun with plenty of moisture. It is commonly found along stream banks, in wet meadows, and around pond margins.

When does Bebb willow bloom?

Bebb willow produces catkins in April and May, typically appearing before or alongside the emerging leaves.

What pollinators visit Bebb willow?

Bees and beetles visit the catkins for pollen and nectar, making Bebb willow an early season food source when few other plants are flowering.

How large does Bebb willow get?

Bebb willow generally grows as a large, multi-stemmed shrub reaching roughly 10 to 20 feet in height.

Does Bebb willow keep its leaves year round?

No, Bebb willow is deciduous. It drops its leaves in fall and produces new foliage each spring.

Is Bebb Willow toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Bebb Willow as toxic to livestock.

Is Bebb Willow HOA-friendly?

Bebb Willow takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Bebb Willow

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Salix bebbiana

Last reviewed: September 2026

Salix bebbiana is a multi-stemmed shrub that grows best in full sun with consistently moist to wet soil, producing catkins in April and May in cool northern and mountain climates.

Toxicity unknown

Bebb Willow (Salix bebbiana) 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.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Bebb Willow as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

high

Size

120"–360" H × 60"–180" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

AZ, CA, CO, CT and 27 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

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Bebb willow is a large native shrub that forms dense thickets along streams and wetlands. It produces fuzzy catkins in spring before the leaves emerge and requires consistently moist to wet soil conditions.

Growing Bebb Willow

Grow Bebb Willow in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 120 to 360 inches tall and spread 60 to 180 inches wide. Expect high maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Bebb Willow takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Grows extremely large and spreads aggressively
Requires wet conditions that may create drainage issues
Natural growth habit appears uncontrolled and wild

Wildlife value

The early spring catkins provide crucial nectar for bees and beetles when few other flowers are available. Birds use the dense branching for nesting sites.

Common questions

What growing conditions does Bebb willow need?: Bebb willow does best in full sun with plenty of moisture. It is commonly found along stream banks, in wet meadows, and around pond margins.
When does Bebb willow bloom?: Bebb willow produces catkins in April and May, typically appearing before or alongside the emerging leaves.
What pollinators visit Bebb willow?: Bees and beetles visit the catkins for pollen and nectar, making Bebb willow an early season food source when few other plants are flowering.
How large does Bebb willow get?: Bebb willow generally grows as a large, multi-stemmed shrub reaching roughly 10 to 20 feet in height.
Does Bebb willow keep its leaves year round?: No, Bebb willow is deciduous. It drops its leaves in fall and produces new foliage each spring.
Is Bebb Willow toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Bebb Willow as toxic to livestock.
Is Bebb Willow HOA-friendly?: Bebb Willow takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

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.

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