Sandbar Willow

Sandbar or Coyote Willow
(Salix exigua)

These willows grow in dense thickets along streambanks throughout the state. They seldom grow taller than about 8 feet. As with all willows, the leaves are very narrow and have a very short petiole.

The male and female flowers grow on separate plants. The individual flowers are very tiny, but they occur in catkins that are an inch or two long, and look somewhat like caterpillars. These appear on the branches at about the same time as the earliest leaves.