Size: Up to 33 feet (10 m) in AZ, 12 to 66 feet (3-20 m) elsewhere, trunk diameter 12 inches (30 cm)
Growth Form:Tree, or shrubs, multi-trunks, 2 to 4 leaning or ascending trunks; bark slightly fissured, branches/twigs brittle, yellow, reddish or gray-brown, drooping branchlets; may for thickets in some areas.
Leaves: Green, peach-shaped, deciduous; shiny above, yellowish-green turning yellow in the fall; small stems (petioles); shape narrowly elliptic, lanceolate or oblanceolate; marginsserrulate; upper surface of leaf shiny green, lower surface silver-white or glaucous, leaves show off shimmering in light or heavy winds.
U.S. Weed Information: No information available.
Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: No information available.
Wetland Indicator: In North America Salix amygdaloides has the following wetland designations: Arid West, FACW; Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain, FACW; Eastern Mountains and Piedmont, FACW; Great Plains, FACW; Midwest, FACW; Northcentral & Northeast, FACW; Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast, FACW.
FACW = Facultative Wetland, usually occur in wetlands, but may occur in non-wetlands.
Threatened/Endangered Information: The State of Kentucky is included Salix amygdaloides, Peachleaf Willow on the Threatened and Endangered list under the Historical status.
Genus Information: In North America there are 129 species and 200 accepted taxa overall for Salix. World wide, The Plant List includes 552 accepted species names with 963 infraspecific rank for the genus.
In the Southwestern United States, Arizona has 20 species of Salix, California has 30 species, Nevada has 24 species, New Mexico has 24 species, Texas has 8 species and Utah has 27 species. All data is approximate and subject to taxonomic changes.
Comments:Salix amygdaloides is not a common plant in the southwestern United States where it is found scattered throughout limited populations.
Peachleaf Willow is common in southwestern United States deserts where it is found along streams commonly with Arizona Walnut (Juglans major), Fremont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii) and Arizona Sycamore (Platanus wrightii).
For a comprehensive and thoroughly documented review of Salix amygdaloides see the USDA USFS Fire Effects Information System, or FEIS.
In the southwestern and western United States, cottonwood-willow habitat provide excellent habitat, nesting, food and shelter for a wide range of birds including raptors, waterfowl, upland game birds and songbirds. Across their range, willow tree communities are known to provide habitat for elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer and moose. Other mammals utilizing willow communities are beavers and cottontails which are known to browse on willow stems and leaves. The federally endangered southwestern willow flycatcher nests in willow trees.
Peachleaf Willow is important forage for wild and domestic ungulates because they generally stay green throughout summer.
Special Value to Native Bees, Butterflies and Insects
Peachleaf Willow, Salix amygdaloides is a host plant for the following butterfly caterpillars: - Find out more from Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA).
Acadian Hairstreak, Satyrium acadica, Caterpillar Hosts: Various willow species including black willow (Salix nigra = Salix amygdaloides).
Mourning Cloak, Caterpillar Hosts: Willows including black willow (Salix nigra).
Scythropiodes issikii, Caterpillar Hosts: The larvae have been recorded feeding on Salix species.
Catocala californica, Caterpillar Hosts: Salix.
Etymology:
The genus Salix is directly from the Latin word "Salix" which means willow. The genus Salix was published by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The species epithet "amygdaloides" is from the Latin words amygdala (“almond”) + -īnus meaning resembling or pertaining to an almond or perhaps a peach tree and Latin name for willow meaning "to leap or spring into life".
Ethnobotany
Peachleaf Willow has been used for variety of purposes by United States indigenous peoples.
Cheyenne Drug, Antidiarrheal, Infusion of bark, and bark shavings used for diarrhea.
Cheyenne Drug, Ceremonial Medicine, Dermatological Aid and Gastrointestinal Aid, Plant used in the Sun Dance ceremony; Poultice of bark applied to bleeding cuts; Infusion of bark shavings used for stomach ailments.
Cheyenne Drug, Hemostat, Panacea, Building Material and Furniture, Poultice of bark applied to bleeding cuts; Infusion of bark taken for diarrhea and other ailments; Branches used to build sweat lodges; Slender shoots bound with sinew and used as backrests’ Young twigs made into cages and used to carry children on travois.
Cheyenne Fiber, Mats, Rugs & Bedding, Cooking Tools, Musical Instrument, Paint and Tools, Wood made into mattresses and used to keep beds above the ground; Branches used to make meat drying racks; Wood used to make drums; Sticks bent and used to remove hair from hides.
Gosiute Fiber, Basketry, Containers, Hunting and Fishing Item, Wood used to make baskets, fish weirs and water jugs, Wood used to make baskets and water jugs, Wood used to make fish weirs.
Okanagan-Colville Drug, Orthopedic Aid, Decoction of branch tips used for soaking the feet and legs for cramps.
See complete listing of ethno-botanical uses at Native American Ethnobotany, University of Michigan, Dearborn.
