Salix exigua aka Sandbar Willow

Salix exigua, or coyote willow, belongs to the willow family. Its native range spans western Canada to northern and eastern Mexico. It grows as a shrub or small tree. In the wild, it forms thickets beside streams and rivers. It also grows in swamps, estuaries, and on fresh sandbars. These sites can have sandy, gravelly, or muddy soil.

In gardens, it reaches 8–13 feet [2.5–4 metres] tall and wide. Some plants reach 25 feet [7.6 metres] in height. Slender stems rise from spreading roots that send up suckers. The bark starts silver-grey or grey-green and develops shallow cracks. Young twigs range from pale green to tan. They may turn red in winter. The narrow leaves grow in an alternate pattern along stems. Young leaves look silver, then turn grey-green as they age. Their lower sides look paler and may bear hairs. The plant sheds its leaves each year.

Flowers appear in catkins as the leaves emerge in spring. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. The catkins range from grey-yellow to yellowish white. Small, pointed capsules form in long, narrow clusters. Each capsule holds many small seeds with fine hairs. The narrow leaves and pale shoots give the thicket a light look.

Grow this willow in full sun or light shade. It accepts clay, loam, and sand across a broad pH range. Moist soil with good drainage suits it. It also grows in well-drained sites and does well on sand. Avoid shallow chalk soil, which it dislikes. The RHS rates its cold hardiness as H6. Plants take about five to ten years to reach full size. Cuttings offer a way to raise new plants. Take soft cuttings in spring or summer, or hardwood cuttings from autumn through late winter.

Its thicket habit suits screens, hedges, and wildlife gardens. The RHS also lists it for coastal and informal gardens. Flexible branches serve in basket work. Bark fibres have supplied cord, cloth, bags, and blankets. Its spreading roots can make the clump expand beyond its first stems. Aphids, caterpillars, leaf beetles, sawflies, and willow scale may attack it. Diseases include anthracnose, scab, canker, honey fungus, and rust. Plants For A Future records leaves used to make a drink. It also records past medicinal use of bark and roots. That source lists no known hazards; this does not prove all uses are safe.