Salix hookeriana aka Dune Willow

Salix hookeriana is known as Hooker's willow or dune willow. It belongs to the willow family, Salicaceae, and sheds its leaves. Its native range runs from Alaska to northern California. This includes southwest British Columbia and western Washington and Oregon. It grows near coastal streams, ponds, and sloughs. It also occurs beside salt marshes and on sandy dunes.

This species can form a large shrub or small tree. Garden plants reach about 13–26 feet (4–8 m) tall and wide. They take about 10–20 years to reach full size. Low branches can root where they touch the ground. This can lead to dense patches of shrubs. The bark is gray-green, with many small, reddish lenticels. Slender twigs range from green-brown to red-brown. Some have a coat of fine gray hairs.

The leaves grow in turn along the stems. Their shapes range from oval to long and narrow. They reach about 0.5 feet (0.15 m) long. The upper face is glossy and dark green. Soft hairs cover the pale blue-green to white underside. The leaves feel somewhat leathery and have smooth edges. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Fuzzy, pale yellow-white catkins open in spring, before or with leaves. Female catkins can reach about 0.4 feet (0.12 m) long. Small, hairy capsules follow, each with many tiny, fuzzy seeds.

Grow this willow in full sun and moist or wet soil. It accepts sand, loam, clay, and chalk. Acid, neutral, and alkaline soils all suit it. It also copes with poor drainage and exposed coastal sites. RHS rates it H5; PFAF lists USDA zones 5–9. It suits coastal gardens, wildlife gardens, hedges, and screens. Established plants need little or no pruning. Take softwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter. Flexible stems and bark have uses in basket making. Fibres from the inner bark can also make rope.

Aphids, caterpillars, leaf beetles, sawflies, and willow scale may attack it. Disease risks include anthracnose, scab, canker, honey fungus, and rust. PFAF reports no known hazards, but lists few worthwhile food uses. The inner bark is bitter and serves as famine food. Young shoots are edible but have a poor taste. Leaves have been used to add flavour to cooked food. PFAF records a traditional leaf treatment for shellfish poisoning. This record does not establish that treatment as safe or effective.