Salix bebbiana

The Bebb Willow is a mid-sized deciduous shrub species that can grow up to 5 m in height. This plant may also be known by the common names Beaked Willow and Diamond Willow. The leaves are alternately arranged, dull green in colour, have wrinkled and hairy undersides, are narrow and elliptic in shape (but broad for willow), and have toothed margins. The bark is reddish or grayish-brown in colour and may have diamond-shaped patches along the main stems. The catkins are light green or yellow coloured and appear with the leaves between May and June. The roots can useful for controlling erosion and stabilizing shorelines.

The Bebb Willow grows best in moist to wet conditions with full or partial sun exposure. It prefers clay, loam or sand but can grow well in a variety of soil type. It is tolerant of periodically flooded areas, clay, drought, and alkalinity. This shrub can be naturally found in wet forests, forest edges, wet fields, and along river or lake shorelines. This shrub species is compaction tolerant due to its shallow and dense root system. Additionally, it attracts many birds, butterflies, and butterfly larvae, including Mourning Cloak and Viceroy.

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Scientific Name: Salix bebbiana
Type: Shrub
Height:
Spread:
Moisture Level: moist, wet
Light Conditions: full sun, part sun
Soil Conditions: sand, clay, loam
Zone (Hardiness of Canada):