| General Description | The Scouler’s Willow is one of the smallest varieties of willow from the salicaceae family. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree, depending on the environment that it grows in. It is one of the most common upland willows and is invasive |
| ID Characteristic | The Scouler’s Willow bark can present a diamond-like shaped pattern generated by fungi. The plant’s stems are widespread which helps in supporting the specimen’s strength 1. The roots are also wide spreading, fibrous, and penetrates deep into the soil. |
| Shape | Trunk of the plant grows upright and has a rounded crown of foliage. Plant is fast-growing. |
| Landscape | Can be used for bordering if grown as a shrub, or in pollinator gardens since the specimen attracts pollinators. The Scouler’s Willow is also planted for land restoration after a natural disturbance such as avalanches or flooded zones, or to control erosion. |
| Propagation | Scouler’s Willow can be propagated from seeds, as well as stem and root cuttings. After seeds have been collected, they should be planted as soon as possible since they are only viable for a few days. Soil beds should be kept moist and an adequate amount of light is also vital. When the seeds are in wet soils, the germination process begins in 12-24 hours. Stem and root cuttings will grow when moderately buried in wet soils. Spacing is recommended for spacing root cuttings. |
| Cultivation | The Scouler’s Willow is more tolerable of drier soil conditions compared to other types of willows, although it prefers moist soils. Resilient in most soil types such as clay, loam, and sand. Will perform better in full sun to partial shade. Plant is intolerable of heavily shaded areas, which may prevent flowering. |
| Pests | Resilient against diseases and pests. However, the woody plant is susceptible to being fed on by native wild animals or livestock. Preferred by animals such as deer, elk, beavers, hares, and even bears who feed on the willow’s leaves, bark, or twigs. |
| Habitat | Grows naturally typically along wetland edges and river streams, clearcuts, diminished forests, or in upland forests with dry soils in high elevations up to 3,000 m. Often referred to as the Fire Willow since the specimen is also known to be invasive in areas after a fire. |
| Bark/Stem Description | The Scouler’s Willow is a woody multi-stemmed plant that grows widespread stems, straight branches, and stout twigs that have flat ridges. The upper surface of stems is a dark green colour, and the lower surface is white that protrudes reddish coloured hairs. Younger twigs are yellow-greenish that darkens to a grey-brown with age 9. When the bark has been stripped, it leaves a skunk-like odour. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | The leaf bud type of the Scouler’s Willow is colonial. The leaf scars left behind are concave in a crescent-like shape. The scales between the leaf stalk and buds have a blunt tip and are cylindrical. |
| Leaf Description | The leaves are oblateolate-elliptic with an alternate arrangement that are 5 cm - 12.5 cm long. The apex is sharply-pointed and tapered at the base. The upper surface is a glossy medium to dark green. The underside is grey in colour, and can either be smooth in texture or coated in small reddish hairs. The acute ends on leaves produce the catkins and fruit capsules. |
| Flower Description | The Scouler’s Willow is a dioecious plant that produces male and female flowers on separate trees. The flowers are produced in catkin clusters. Flowers are small and insignificant, they grow in small, fluffy, cylindrical groupings. Female catkins, 2 cm - 6 cm long, contains a hairy ovary, stigma, and style. Male catkins, 2 cm - 4 cm long, contain two stamens. Both male and female catkins can either produce short stalks that are 0.3 cm - 1 cm, or can be stalkless yet grow short branchlets. Dark brown-black bracts grow underneath flowers that are coated in small, fine hairs. Flowers are in a light yellow colour. Flowering occurs from April to June. |
| Fruit Description | Produces nonedible small rusty-brown and long-pointed capsules that are 0.75cm long. The capsules contain embedded tiny seeds which are coated by white tufts of hair. At maturity, the capsules split and release the seeds within for reproduction 9. The fruit is produced from May to July, and the pointed stipules drop in the early seasons. |
| Colour Description | Leaves are a dark-medium green that fades to a pale yellow during autumn. Fruit capsules are rusty-brown, male flowers are an insignificant yellow. Bracts are a dark brown-black.The stems are dark-green on the top surface, and grey below that grows rusty hairs. |
| Texture Description | The bark texture on matured stems smooth, hollowly fissured, and scaly. |