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(Salix bebbiana)
Gray Willow (Salix bebbiana)
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Reuven Martin
Public Domain
Image By:
Reuven Martin
Recorded By:
Copyright:
Public Domain
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Reuven Martin | License Type: Public Domain | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ | Rights Holder: Reuven Martin | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2019-09-28T15:39:04-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Salix bebbiana, commonly known as Gray Willow, is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to a variety of wetland habitats, including riparian zones, lakesides, swamps, marshes, and bogs across the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in Alaska, Alberta, the Russian Far East, the Altai Mountains, and Sakha. It typically grows to a height of 4-25 feet (1.2-7.6 meters) and a width of 4-12 feet (1.2-3.7 meters), often forming dense, colonial thickets with multiple stems. The Gray Willow is characterized by its gray-brown bark, lance-shaped leaves, and catkins that appear before the leaves in early spring. The flowers are not particularly showy, but they provide early-season pollen for bees.
The Gray Willow is valued for its ability to stabilize soil in wetland restoration projects and is often used in riparian buffer plantings. It is also appreciated for its wildlife value, as it supports a range of insects and provides forage for domestic cattle. In cultivation, it thrives in moist to wet conditions and can tolerate a range of soil types, including heavy clay and rocky substrates. It prefers full sun to part shade and can handle soils with varying drainage speeds. While it is not commonly used in ornamental landscaping, it can be an effective choice for naturalized areas or as a windbreak in rural settings.CC BY-SA 4.0
The Gray Willow is valued for its ability to stabilize soil in wetland restoration projects and is often used in riparian buffer plantings. It is also appreciated for its wildlife value, as it supports a range of insects and provides forage for domestic cattle. In cultivation, it thrives in moist to wet conditions and can tolerate a range of soil types, including heavy clay and rocky substrates. It prefers full sun to part shade and can handle soils with varying drainage speeds. While it is not commonly used in ornamental landscaping, it can be an effective choice for naturalized areas or as a windbreak in rural settings.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Tree, Shrub
- Height: 4-25 feet
- Width: 4-12 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Part Shade, Full Sun
- Water: High
- Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Erosion Control, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Water Garden
Natural Habitat
Wetland habitats including riparian zones, lakesides, swamps, marshes, and bogs
Other Names
Common Names: Bebb’s Willow, Beaked Willow, Long-Beaked Willow, Finnvide, 여우버들
Scientific Names: , Salix bebbiana, Salix bebbiana var. bebbiana, Salix bebbiana var. perrostrata, Salix starkeana subsp. cinerascens, Salix floderusii, Salix rostrata, Salix cinerascens, Salix xerophila var. fuscescens, Salix bebbiana var. capreifolia
GBIF Accepted Name: Salix bebbiana Sarg.