Scouler's Willow (Salix scouleriana) is a versatile native shrub or small tree that offers all the ecological benefits of a willow while requiring far less water than many of its streamside relatives. Naturally found on mountain slopes, forest edges, and upland sites throughout the West, it is well adapted to average garden soils and can thrive with surprisingly little supplemental irrigation once established. Soft spring catkins provide one of the season’s earliest nectar and pollen sources for native bees and other pollinators, while its attractive green foliage and more upright form bring natural beauty to the landscape. Scouler's Willow handles pruning and shaping well and can easily be maintained in an attractive shape. Scouler’s Willow is an excellent choice for native hedgerows or privacy plantings, structural shrubs in garden beds or borders, pollinator plantings, and water-wise landscapes where gardeners want the character and benefits of a willow without the high water demands typically associated with the genus.