Salix richardsonii, commonly known as Richardson’s willow or woolly willow, is a deciduous shrub native to the cold, wet environments of the Arctic and Subarctic regions. It is found in Alaska, northern Canada, and parts of Russia. This species typically forms dense thickets ranging from 3 to 7 feet in height but can occasionally reach up to 21 feet. Richardson’s willow has smooth-barked stems with distinctive hairy young twigs. As a dioecious plant, it produces separate male and female catkin inflorescences, which emerge before the leaves in early spring. The catkins are not particularly showy but are critical for early-season pollinators. It thrives in a variety of wet habitats, including along streams, floodplains, within spruce forests, and across the tundra.

Richardson’s willow is valued for its ability to stabilize eroding streambanks and its ecological role in providing food and habitat for wildlife such as moose, caribou, and beavers. Its dense growth habit makes it suitable for use as a windbreak or for erosion control in appropriate climates. In cultivation, it requires consistently moist to wet soil conditions and can tolerate a range of soil types, from sandy to clay, as long as they are well-drained. It prefers full sun to partial shade. While generally low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to willow blight and other fungal diseases. Richardson’s willow has a history of use by Native Americans for medicinal purposes and crafting, such as basketry.CC BY-SA 4.0