Salix alaxensis aka Felt Leaf Willow

Salix alaxensis, or feltleaf willow, is a deciduous shrub or tree. It belongs to the willow family, Salicaceae. Its native range spans Siberia, the Russian Far East, and northern North America. It grows in Alaska and parts of western Canada. These include Yukon, the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, and western Alberta. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

Its form changes with the site and level of exposure. It can reach about 33 feet (10 metres) as a tree. At exposed sites, it may stay low against the ground. Near and beyond the tree line, it forms low, spreading shrubs. Its wild habitats include damp tundra and gravel beds. It also grows on rocky ground beside rivers and lakes. These settings help explain its need for moist ground in gardens.

Flowers appear in May, and the seeds ripen in June. Bees pollinate the flowers. Each plant bears either male or female flowers, not both. Grow both sexes if you need seed. Plants for a Future says it cannot grow in shade. It lists moist or wet soil as suitable. The plant accepts sand, loam, and clay, including heavy clay. Mildly acid to neutral soil suits it. The same source gives USDA hardiness zones 3–7. It notes that experience with this species in Britain is limited.

Several parts have recorded food uses, though its food rating is low. People have eaten the inner bark raw or cooked. It has also served as food when other supplies ran short. Dried bark can be ground to thicken soup or supplement flour. Young leaves and tender shoots can be eaten raw or cooked. Spring shoots are peeled before eating. Children have sucked the flowers for their sweet nectar. Plants for a Future reports no known hazards. That statement does not establish safety for pets or every use.

In northern parts of its range, the wood provides firewood. Cuttings offer one way to raise new plants. The source describes both mature and half-ripe cuttings as easy to root. Sow ripe seed on the surface without delay in late spring. It may remain viable for only a few days. The source also records medicinal value, but gives little species-specific detail. It does not flag this willow as a weed.