Search Fact Sheets Virginia Tech Dendrology

Arctic willow Salicaceae Salix arctica Pall. Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: SAAR27
Leaf: Alternate, simple, deciduous, ovate to nearly round, to 2 inches long, edges entire and may be long ciliate; hairy or shiny green on top, lower surface long-hairy or glaucous with long hairs near the tip; stipules mostly absent.
Flower: Species is dioecious; showy yellow (males) or purple (female) catkins stand upright from the branch tips; up to 4 inches long; flowers lack petals; appearing with the new leaves.
Fruit: Small, silky, wind-dispersed seeds from tear-shaped capsules, develop and shed early in the growing season.
Twig: Yellow-brown to red-brown and glaucous.
Bark: Yellow-brown to red-brown and glaucous, weathering to gray.
Form: A small creeping and twisted shrub, commonly less than 6 inches tall but may reach 2 feet; mat forming, often rooting at the branch tips.

Arctic willow leaf image
Arctic willow flower image
Arctic willow fruit image
Arctic willow twig image
Arctic willow form image
Arctic willow map image

Additional Range Information: Salix arctica is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information