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.
Scouler's Willow
Irrigation Requirement: Low (1/2" every 10-14 days) or Moderate (1/2" every 7-10 days) *Moderate preferred for best form and growth
Mature Size: 15 - 30' tall and wide (can grow as a shrub or into a tree)
Spacing: 15 - 20' feet
Hardiness Zone: 3 - 9
Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade.
Deer Resistant: No
Salt Tolerant: No
Soils: Does well in sand, loam, or clay soils that are well-drained.
Plants in the Salix genus are known host plants for 214 native pollinators in northern Utah. Willows are also an early spring nectar and pollen source for bees and provide seed and habitat for birds and other small animals.