How much sun does Pacific willow need?

Pacific willow grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Pacific willow bloom?

Pacific willow blooms in March, April, and May.

Where is Pacific willow native?

Pacific willow (Salix lasiandra) is native to AL, AZ, CA, CO and 9 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

What butterflies or moths does Pacific willow host?

Pacific willow is a larval host plant for mourning cloak and western tiger swallowtail.

Pacific willow

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Salix lasiandra

Last reviewed: October 2026

Pacific willow (Salix lasiandra) is a perennial tree native to AL, AZ, CA, CO and 9 more states. It blooms in March, April, and May. The flowers draw bees and flies.

Toxicity unknown

Pacific willow (Salix lasiandra) 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

high

Size

120"–480" H × 96"–240" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May

Native to

AL, AZ, CA, CO and 9 more states

Pollinators

bees, flies

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Puget Lowland Marine West Coast Forest Northwestern Forested Mountains Sierra Nevada Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Central California Valley Southern California Mountains North American Deserts Central Basin and Range Southern Rockies Southwestern Tablelands Northwestern Great Plains Southern California/Northern Baja Coast

A fast-growing willow with glossy lance-shaped leaves and yellow catkins in early spring, often multi-trunked with an open, spreading canopy. Grows along streambanks and wet meadows and drops leaves and twigs through the season.

Growing Pacific willow

Grow Pacific willow in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 120 to 480 inches tall and spread 96 to 240 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Host plant for mourning cloak, western tiger swallowtail.

Early catkins are a critical spring nectar and pollen source for native bees, and the foliage hosts mourning cloak and western tiger swallowtail caterpillars.

Common questions

How much sun does Pacific willow need?: Pacific willow grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Pacific willow bloom?: Pacific willow blooms in March, April, and May.
Where is Pacific willow native?: Pacific willow (Salix lasiandra) is native to AL, AZ, CA, CO and 9 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What butterflies or moths does Pacific willow host?: Pacific willow is a larval host plant for mourning cloak and western tiger swallowtail.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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.

See all plant problem guides

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