Lemmon’s Willow: A Native Gem for Water-Loving Gardens
If you’re looking for a hardy, fast-growing native shrub that thrives in wet conditions, let me introduce you to Lemmon’s willow (Salix lemmonii). This unsung hero of the willow family might just be the perfect addition to those challenging damp spots in your landscape that leave other plants sulking.
What Is Lemmon’s Willow?
Lemmon’s willow is a perennial, multi-stemmed shrub that typically grows to about 14 feet tall at maturity. Don’t let the willow name fool you into thinking you’ll end up with a massive weeping tree – this species stays much more manageable as a medium-sized shrub. With its rapid growth rate and dense summer foliage, it quickly fills in spaces and provides excellent natural screening.
Where Does It Call Home?
This native beauty has quite an impressive range across western North America. You’ll find Lemmon’s willow growing naturally in British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. It’s truly a plant that knows how to handle the diverse conditions of the American West.
Why Your Garden (and Local Wildlife) Will Love It
Here’s where Lemmon’s willow really shines. As an early bloomer, it produces yellow catkins in early spring, providing crucial nectar and pollen when most other plants are still snoozing. Those early pollinators – bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects – will thank you for this timely feast.
The dense, medium-textured foliage provides excellent cover for birds and small wildlife throughout the growing season. Plus, with its high coppicing potential and strong resprout ability, this willow can handle some browsing pressure from wildlife while bouncing back beautifully.
Perfect Spots for Planting
Lemmon’s willow is classified as facultative wetland, which means it absolutely loves wet feet but can also tolerate drier conditions once established. This makes it incredibly versatile for:
- Rain gardens and bioswales
- Streamside plantings and riparian buffers
- Low-lying areas that stay moist
- Erosion control on slopes
- Naturalized landscape areas
- Wildlife habitat gardens
Growing Conditions That Make It Happy
One of the best things about Lemmon’s willow is its adaptability. It’s not picky about soil texture – whether you have clay, sand, or something in between, this willow will adapt. Here are the key growing conditions it prefers:
- Hardiness: Zones 4-8 (can handle temperatures down to -28°F)
- Moisture: High water needs, but drought tolerance is low
- Soil pH: Adaptable to slightly acidic to neutral soils (5.2-7.4)
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Precipitation: Thrives with 20-40 inches annually
Planting and Care Tips
Getting Lemmon’s willow established is refreshingly straightforward:
- When to plant: Early spring or fall for best establishment
- Spacing: Plant 1,200-2,700 per acre for restoration projects, or space individual shrubs 6-10 feet apart
- Watering: Keep consistently moist, especially during the first growing season
- Mulching: Apply organic mulch around the base to retain moisture
- Pruning: Can handle aggressive pruning if needed – it responds well to coppicing
Propagation Options
Want more Lemmon’s willows? You have several options:
- Cuttings: The easiest method – take hardwood cuttings in late fall or winter
- Seeds: Possible but requires patience as seedling vigor is low
- Bare root or container plants: Available through specialty native plant nurseries
The Bottom Line
Lemmon’s willow is a fantastic choice for gardeners dealing with wet conditions who want to support native wildlife while creating natural privacy screens. Its rapid growth, early pollinator support, and excellent adaptability make it a winner for naturalized landscapes and restoration projects.
Just remember – this isn’t a plant for dry, formal gardens. But if you have a spot that stays moist and you want a fast-growing native that gives back to local ecosystems, Lemmon’s willow might just become your new favorite shrub. Plus, there’s something deeply satisfying about growing a plant that’s been thriving in your region for thousands of years!
