Ontario Trees & Shrubs website

Identifying Willows

Here are some pointers to aid in identifying Willows.

Key points to observe when identifying Willows:

  • size: shrub or tree
  • flowering time: before, with, or after the leaves
  • leaf shape
  • arrangement of leaves (Willows have alternate leaves, but one Willow has leaves that are almost opposite)
  • whether the leaves are smooth (glaucous) or hairy (pubescent)
  • whether it has stipules
  • habitat
  • White Willow (Salix alba)
    • large tree
    • flowers with leaves
    • flowers: usually 2 stamens, sometimes 3 or 4
    • usually a hybrid in Ontario with Crack Willow (Salix fragilis)
    • often found in gardens, parks, etc.
    • introduced (non-native)
    • leaves linear
    • habitat: along rivers
  • Peach-leaved Willow (Salix amygdaloides)
  • Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica)
    • large tree
    • often in gardens, parks, etc.
    • introduced (non-native)
    • leaves long and narrow
    • branches hanging down like hair
    • distinctive
  • Bebb's Willow (Salix bebbiana)
    • flowers with leaves
    • leaves dull green above
    • leaves rugose and grey-pubescent with whitish hairs beneath
    • variable species
    • habitat: bogs
  • Sage-leaved Willow (Salix candida)
    • a low shrub < 1.5m tall
    • flowers with leaves
    • leaves densely pubescent
    • leaves white-tomentose on lower surface
    • leaf edges revolute (curled under)
    • habitat: moist areas
  • Heart-leaved Willow (Salix cordata)
    • a thicket-forming shrub
    • flowers with leaves
    • has stipules
    • young stems are pubescent
    • leaves densely pubescent - lustrous hairy
    • habitat: sand dunes, lake shores, river banks
  • Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)
    • large shrub, small tree
    • flowers very early, before leaves; catkins densely hairy
    • young leaves often with erddish hairs
    • variable
    • older leaves whitened underneath
    • leaf teeth irregular
    • habitat: damp meadows
  • Missouri Willow (Salix eriocephala)
    • meadium-to-large shrub
    • flowers before or with leaves
    • has stipules
    • young leaves often erddish and pubescent
    • habitat: bottomlands, riversides, etc.
  • Sandbar Willow (Salix exigua)
    • shrub
    • variable
    • long narrow leaves
    • habitat: floodplains, flat, wet
  • Crack Willow (Salix fragilis)
    • medium-to-large tree
    • flowers with leaves
    • flowers: usually 2 stamens, sometimes 3-4 stamens
    • sometimes has small stipules
    • introduced: often in gardens, parks, etc.
    • leaves linear
    • twigs brittle at base, break off easily
    • habitat: along rivers
    • very similar to Black Willow (Salix nigra)
  • Prairie Willow (Salix humilis)
    • shrub
    • flowers before leaves
    • young leaves often with reddish hairs
    • flowers early
    • variable
  • Shining Willow (Salix lucida)
    • shrub or small tree
    • flowers with leaves
    • flowers have 3-6, often 5 stamens
    • leaves shiny above and below
    • young leaves often reddish
    • has stipules
    • glands on leaf margins, leaf stalks (petioles), and stipule margins
    • habitat: wet areas
  • Laurel Willow (Salix pentandra)
    • shrub
    • flowers have 5 stamens
    • leaves shiny above
    • leaves fragrant when crushed
    • often in gardens, parks, etc.
  • Blue-leaved Willow (Salix myricoides)
    • shrub
    • flowers with leaves or just before
    • leaves often drying, blackish
    • young leaves often with reddish hairs
  • Black Willow (Salix nigra)
    • tall shrub or tree
    • flowers with leaves
    • flowers have 3-6, often 5 stamens
    • has stipules
    • young leaves often reddish
    • leaves linear
    • branchlets brittle at base
    • habitat: low ground, river flats
    • very similar to Crack Willow (Salix fragilis)
  • Bog Willow (Salix pedicellaris)
    • low shrub < 1.5m tall
    • flowers with leaves
    • leaves leathery, glaucous, with prominent veinaton
    • habitat: bogs
  • Slender Willow (Salix petiolaris)
    • shrub
    • flowers with leaves
    • leaves shiny above
    • leaves have minute teeth
    • young leaves often have reddish hairs and thinly silky-hairy beneath
    • leaves linear
    • young twigs light greenish, becoming dark brown to nearly black
    • leaves often overlapping on stem
    • common in southern Ontario
    • habitat: wet areas; also dry upland places
  • Basket Willow (Salix purpurea)
    • shrub
    • flowers with leaves or just before
    • leaves appear to be opposite (sub-opposite) - only Willow like this
    • immature branches usually dark purple
    • leaves purple-tinged
    • often in gardens, parks, etc.
  • Balsam Willow (Salix pyrifolia)
    • shrub
    • flowers with leaves
    • leaves fragrant (balsam odour)
    • leaves transluscent when young
    • leaves roundish
    • young leaves often tinged purplish-red
    • habitat: bogs
  • Autumn Willow (Salix serissima)
    • shrub
    • flowers after leaves - last to flower of all Ontario Willows
    • leaves shiny above
    • seed capsules often persist into autumn
    • habitat: bogs
  • Basket Willow (Salix viminalis)
    • shrub or small tree
    • flowers before leaves
    • leaves densely pubescent
    • leaves long and very narrow
    • often in gardens, parks, etc.