Taxon Report

Salix nivalis Hook.

snow willow

Print Report


© 2009 Steve Matson

Taxon Summary

Salix nivalis, commonly known as snow willow, is a perennial deciduous shrub in the Salicaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Alpine dwarf scrub, growing at elevations from 3100 to 3500 meters. Salix nivalis is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Salix nivalis Hook.
Common Name:
 snow willow
Family: Salicaceae
Element Code: PDSAL024K0
USDA Plants Symbol: SANI8
Synonyms/Other Names:
  • Salix reticulata L. ssp. nivalis (Hook.) A. Love, D. Love & Kapoor

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: perennial deciduous shrub
Blooming Period: Jul-Aug Jul-Aug
Elevation: 3100-3500 (10170-11485)
General Habitats: Alpine dwarf scrub
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 2B.3
Global Rank: G5
State Rank:
 S2
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:
  • changed from 2.3 to 2B.3 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 14
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 1
   Good (B) 2
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 11

Location
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY), Mono (MNO), Tuolumne (TUO)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Convict Lake (3711857), Dunderberg Peak (3811913), Koip Peak (3711972), Mount Dana (3711982), Mt. Abbot (3711847), Tioga Pass (3711983)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 2
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
3 21 %
Other 2 14%
Recreational use (non-ORV) 1 7%

Notes
Possibly threatened by recreational activities. A synonym of S. reticulata ssp. nivalis in The Jepson Manual. See Madroño 44(2):115-136 (1997) for revised nomenclature.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 13 November 2025].