Sandbar Willow Trees

Geography

• The Yukon River in the central regions of Alaska is the northern border of this willow's range. The sandbar willow grows southward through Canada into the West as far south as Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico. The species grows throughout south-central portions of Canada into the Great Plains, Great Lakes, Midwest and western New York State. Often seen on sandbars in rivers and streams, the sandbar willow always grows near water.

Size and Growth

• Most sandbar willows are much smaller than trees, but there are examples of this species that reach heights of 26 feet, notes Utah State University. The sandbar willow does not feature a thick trunk, with the largest being just 5 inches across. In the wild and in a proper habitat in a landscape, sandbar willow reproduces quickly, forming extensive thickets. The seeds, which germinate usually within the first 24 hours of their dispersal, help to spread this willow. New growth will develop from the root system as well. Fractured bits of the roots and the stems have the capacity to regenerate when in contact with wet ground.

Features

• The width of the sandbar willow's foliage gives rise to the nickname of narrowleaf willow for this shrub or tree. While the leaf can grow to 4 inches in length, the width is just 1/4 inch. The leaves of sandbar willow are pointy on both ends, possess only a few serrations along their edges and attach to the twigs via a very short stalk that is almost indiscernible. Colors on both sides of the leaf vary between yellow-green to grayish-green. The lightweight wood is vulnerable to decay. The bark is shades of brown and green-gray; it is smooth on young specimens, but furrowed on older ones.

Uses

• Many types of deer, including elk and moose, graze on the foliage and stems of the sandbar willow. Beavers in particular make sandbar willow an important part of their diet, since the species grows in such close proximity to water. The thickets that develop from sandbar willow provide shelter and hiding places for wildlife. This willow helps greatly in the stabilization of stream banks, protecting them from the effects of erosion. Adapted to growing where flooding often occurs, the sandbar willow is a great fit for your landscapes where swamps, ponds or streams exist.