Laurel Willow (Salix pentandra L.)
Also known as bay-leaved willow.
↑Summary
A somewhat atypical willow named for the resemblance of it leaves, which are shiny and aromatic when crushed, to bay or laurel (Laurus nobilis). Native to Europe and northern Asia, and introduced to various sites across North America.
↑Range - Expand
| Legend | Color |
| Introduced | |
| Introduced or Not Present |
This tentative map is based on our own research. It may have limited data on Canada and/or Mexico, and there is some subjectivity in our assignment of plants as introduced vs. expanded. Read more in this blog post.
Although this plant occurs somewhere in each of these regions, it may only occur in a small part of some or all of them.
↑Uses
Occasionally cultivated as a landscaping plant, where it is valued for the aesthetics of its foliage; most populations are escapes from cultivation. In North America, the native Salix lucida, which has similarly shiny foliage, represents a better alternative to this species.
↑Links & External Resources
• Salix pentandra (Bay-leaved Willow) | Illinois Wildflowers (About This Site)
• Salix pentandra (Laurel Willow) | USDA PLANTS Database (About This Site)
• Salix pentandra | Go Botany (About This Site)
• Laurel Willow | iNaturalist (About This Site)
• Salix pentandra | Biota of North America Project (BONAP) (About This Site)
• Salix pentandra | NatureServe Explorer (About This Site)
• Salix pentandra | Flora of North America (About This Site)
• Laurel Willow | Maryland Biodiversity Project (About This Site)
• Salix pentandra L. (Laurel Willow) | Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora (About This Site)
