BEBB / BEAKED WILLOW Salix bebbiana
• A widespread native willow of the Canadian Prairies, known for its upright, multi‑stemmed form and dense thickets that provide exceptional wildlife habitat. Young stems are smooth and reddish‑brown, maturing to gray with age.
• Produces soft, silvery catkins in early spring before leaf‑out — an important early nectar and pollen source for bees and other emerging pollinators.
• Leaves are elliptic, bluish‑green above and pale, often fuzzy beneath; the species is highly adaptable to both moist and moderately dry soils.
• Frequently used in reclamation, shelterbelts, riparian plantings, and naturalized landscapes due to its toughness and ability to stabilize soil.
• Full Sun to Part Shade
• Zone 2, 3–6 m Height × 2–4 m Width
