# Arroyo Willow (*Salix lasiolepis*) The Arroyo Willow is a tall tree that loves to grow near water. Its long, slender leaves sway gently in the breeze, making it a beautiful sight in nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Arroyo Willow](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Salix_lasiolepis%2801%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: William & Wilma Follette @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. Western wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. West Region, S, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salix_lasiolepis%2801%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Arroyo Willow is often a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with reddish-brown bark. It has long, narrow, green leaves, often with fuzzy undersides. Its distinctive catkins appear in early spring, starting silvery and turning yellowish-green. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malpighiales - **Family:** Salicaceae - **Genus:** Salix ## Interesting facts - Wow! Beavers love to munch on its branches and build dams with them! - Wow! Its fluffy seeds can travel on the wind like tiny parachutes! - Wow! People once chewed its bark for medicine, long before aspirin existed! - Wow! Some of the fastest growing plants in its habitat are Arroyo Willows! ## Special abilities - **Erosion Buster:** Arroyo Willow can grow deep, spreading roots that help hold soil together, preventing riverbanks from washing away. - **Water Whisperer:** Arroyo Willow has a special ability to thrive in wet, soggy soils, making it perfect for stream sides and marshy areas. - **Quick Recoverer:** Arroyo Willow can regrow quickly from its base even after being cut or damaged, helping it bounce back from floods or fires. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-1000 cm - **Spread:** 300-1000 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-10 cm - **Bloom Season:** Early spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [American Beaver](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-beaver) (*Castor canadensis*) — Young stems and bark are a favorite food source. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Feeds on nectar and pollen from early spring catkins. - **Shelter:** [Willow Flycatcher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/willow-flycatcher) (*Empidonax traillii*) — Nests exclusively in dense willow thickets near water. - **Eats:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on young leaves and twigs, especially in winter. - **Eats:** Willow Aphid (*Chaitophorus salicola*) — Feeds on the sap from its leaves and young stems. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay on paths and don't climb trees without an adult's help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Arroyo Willow? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Arroyo Willow? 300-1000 cm ### How wide does Arroyo Willow spread? 300-1000 cm ### How big are the flowers on Arroyo Willow? 2-10 cm ### When does Arroyo Willow bloom? Early spring ### Is Arroyo Willow edible? No ### Is Arroyo Willow toxic? Mild ### What is Arroyo Willow's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Arroyo Willow: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/arroyo-willow)