Silky willow is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the willow family (Salicacae) and is native to the eastern United States and Canada. It is often found in riparian areas in the eastern United States, but rarely in the mountains and Piedmont of North Carolina. The leaves are whiteish-green with silky hairs. Silky willow tolerates most soil types, from coarse to fine, but does not do well in alkaline soils. It requires moist to wet soil and will do well in sun or shade. The plant is a rapid grower and attains a mature height of 12 feet after 20 years of growth. It is one of the more ornamental willows available. As a species, willows do very well in damp or wet areas. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known problems More information on Salix .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water | Good Drainage | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Multi-stemmed
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
White green leaves, 2 1/2 to 4 inches long and 1/3 of an inch wide, with silky hairs underneath.
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Catkin
Flower detail
Small flowers blossom in spring and early summer.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Bark detail
Thin and smooth
Stem color
Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
Long, thin, purplish stems. Glabrous or silky and brittle at the base.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
eastern United States and Canada
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB , NS
Wildlife value
This plant supports Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) larvae which has two to three broods from May-September. Adult butterflies feed on decaying matter, aphid honeydew, and nectar from composite flowers. Flowers are pollinated by native bees and honey bees and is the larval host plant for the Acadian Hairstreak butterfly.