Salix cordata – Dune Willow

This species is mostly found living on sand dunes around portions of the Great Lakes. It’s considered endangered in New York, only growing along the eastern edge of Lake Ontario. Despite it’s preference for sandy or coarse soils in the wild, it grows well on the more typical clay loam that we have in the Catskills. Which is a good thing because it’s one of our more attractive native willows with ovate wooly leaves and catkins that are larger than those of the ever-popular pussy willow. It’s also a compact shrub, much easier to incorporate into the home landscape than pussy willow. Also known as Heartleaf Willow and Furry Willow.