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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWillows range from towering trees to low, mat-forming shrubs. This guide compares 12 selected species by growth habit, identifying features, habitat and garden use. It is a general-interest selection—not a definitive global list, and a willow described as common in one region may be uncommon elsewhere.
How to identify a willow
Willows (Salix) are deciduous trees or shrubs with simple leaves and small flowers arranged in catkins. Male and female flowers are usually found on separate plants. A reliable identification uses several clues together: growth form, leaf width and edge, leaf surface, stems, catkins and habitat. A single leaf feature is not enough to confirm a species; use a regional field key when certainty matters. The Royal Horticultural Society’s tree guidance and USDA NRCS plant guides offer useful context, though the latter’s regional species sheets may be older.
12 willow species and their distinguishing features
Names and classifications can vary among references. The list combines garden willows described by the RHS with North American species covered by USDA NRCS or Missouri Botanical Garden. It should not be read as a ranking of the most common willows worldwide.
| Species | Growth form and useful clues | Habitat or garden role |
|---|---|---|
| Salix × sepulcralis Weeping willow |
Large tree with long, pendulous branches. The name refers to a hybrid; not every plant called a weeping willow is necessarily this taxon. | A dramatic feature tree for a spacious site. The RHS also describes golden-leaved selections under this hybrid name. RHS willow trees. |
| Salix alba White willow |
Large tree. Silver-leaved and golden-stemmed plants are horticultural forms of the species, not separate species. | Tree-scale planting; colored foliage or stems depend on the selected form. RHS willow trees. |
| Salix caprea Goat willow |
The species naturally grows as a spreading shrub. The familiar ‘Kilmarnock’ is grafted to create a compact weeping form. | Consider the cultivar and grafted form, not just the species name, when judging the plant’s eventual shape. RHS willow trees. |
| Salix pentandra Bay willow |
Medium-to-large tree; male plants bear showy catkins. | A tree-scale garden selection in RHS guidance. RHS willow trees. |
| Salix viminalis Common osier |
Shrubby willow. | A shrub rather than a conventional ornamental tree in RHS garden guidance. RHS willow trees. |
| Salix lanata Woolly willow |
Small willow with woolly stems and silvery-green catkins. | Offers a smaller planting scale than large willow trees. RHS willow trees. |
| Salix herbacea Dwarf willow |
Small, mat-forming plant rather than a tree. | A reminder that the willow genus includes low-growing forms. RHS willow trees. |
| Salix discolor Pussy willow |
Usually a large, multi-stemmed shrub. Male and female catkins occur on separate plants. | A North American willow suited to moist landscape settings. “Pussy willow” is also used for other plants, so check the botanical name. Missouri Botanical Garden plant profile. |
| Salix exigua Coyote willow |
Shrub with very long, narrow leaves; spreads by root-sprouting. | USDA NRCS describes it in wetlands and along streams in western and central North America. Check current distribution and status with USDA PLANTS or local authorities. USDA NRCS plant guides. |
| Salix sitchensis Sitka willow |
Large shrub or small tree. | A region-specific North American example associated with streambanks, lake shores, wetland margins and forest edges from southern Alaska to southwestern Oregon, as described by USDA NRCS. USDA NRCS plant guides. |
| Salix lasiandra Pacific willow |
Tall shrub or small tree with long, narrow, shiny leaves and finely toothed edges. | Associated with riverbanks and floodplains. The USDA guide uses the name Salix lucida subsp. lasiandra; the names reflect a taxonomic treatment, not two unrelated willows. USDA NRCS plant guides. |
| Salix interior Sandbar willow |
Suckering shrub with narrow, lance-shaped leaves; can form dense thickets. | USDA NRCS describes it on streamside sand or gravel and other flood-prone sites. USDA NRCS plant guides. |
How to distinguish similar willows
Coyote willow and sandbar willow
Both have narrow leaves and can spread into thickets, so leaf shape alone may not separate them. USDA NRCS describes coyote willow as having very long, narrow leaves and spreading by root-sprouting; sandbar willow is associated with sandy or gravelly stream deposits and other flood-prone sites. Treat these as field clues, then compare the plant’s full form and habitat with a regional key. USDA NRCS plant guides.
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Weeping willow and goat willow ‘Kilmarnock’
Both can have a weeping outline, but their scale and identity differ. Salix × sepulcralis is a large weeping tree, while ‘Kilmarnock’ is a grafted form of the shrub species Salix caprea. A drooping habit alone does not identify a willow.
Common names and pussy willow
Common names are not always precise. “Pussy willow” can refer to more than one willow, and “weeping willow” describes a habit as well as being associated with particular taxa. Match a common name to a botanical name before comparing care or mature size.
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Choosing a willow for a garden or site
Match the particular species or cultivar to the site before planting. A willow suitable for a wet stream margin may be a poor choice beside a building, and pruning does not make every large tree appropriate for a small space.
- Check eventual size and spread. The RHS notes that many willow trees need spacious gardens; shrubby forms vary and may suit borders, hedges or smaller settings. Confirm the size of the specific species or cultivar. RHS willow trees.
- Match soil and moisture. Many tree willows prefer moist soil and full sun, and some tolerate permanently wet conditions. The RHS says tree species generally perform poorly in very dry, shallow or chalky soil. RHS willow trees.
- Consider roots and nearby construction. Vigorous roots are a consideration for large shrubby willows near foundations or underground pipes. Allow for the plant’s mature spread and seek local professional advice where planting near services or structures. RHS willow shrubs.
- Choose for the feature you want. Decide whether the priority is catkins, foliage, a weeping habit, a low mat or colorful stems. Some willows can be pruned to control size or encourage colored stems, but that is not a substitute for choosing a suitably sized plant. RHS willow trees.
- Confirm local suitability. The North American species listed here are region-specific examples, not recommendations for every location. Check local climate, ecological guidance and any applicable planting restrictions; USDA NRCS directs readers to current USDA PLANTS profiles or state agencies for distribution and status.
Why “willow tree” can be misleading
The genus Salix includes large trees, multi-stemmed shrubs, small willows and mat-forming plants. Catkins are a characteristic seasonal feature, but their appearance and timing differ among species, and male and female flowers are usually on separate plants. For identification and planting decisions, combine the botanical name with the plant’s growth form, leaves, stems, catkins and habitat rather than relying on a common name alone.
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