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Ecological relationships
Who uses this plant?
281CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including KY
Genus host records with ranges including KY · Salix
- Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
- Automeris ioIo Moth
- Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Moth
- Limenitis archippusViceroy
- Limenitis arthemisRed-spotted Purple
- Nymphalis antiopaMourning Cloak
- Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
- Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
- Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
- Acleris minutaLesser Apple Leaf Folder, Yellowheaded Fireworm
Show all 281
- Acleris viburnana"North American" Schaller's Acleris
- Acrobasis indigenellaLeaf Crumpler
- Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
- Acronicta connectaConnected Dagger
- Acronicta fragilisFragile Dagger
- Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
- Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
- Acronicta impressaImpressive Dagger, Printed Dagger
- Acronicta innotataUnmarked Dagger
- Acronicta insularisHenry's Marsh Moth, Cattail Caterpillar
- Acronicta interruptaInterrupted Dagger
- Acronicta lepusculinaCottonwood Dagger
- Acronicta longaLong-Winged Dagger, Darkish Dagger
- Acronicta noctivagaNight-Wandering Dagger, Burglar Dagger
- Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
- Acronicta radcliffeiRadcliffe's Dagger
- Actias lunaLuna Moth
- Adoneta spinuloidesPurple-Crested Slug
- Aethalura intertextaFour-Barred Gray
- Agonopterix argillaceaClay-Colored Agonopterix
- Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
- Americerura scitiscriptaBlack-Etched Prominent
- Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
- Anaplectoides prasinaGreen Arches Dart
- Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
- Ancylis diminuatanaShattered Ancylis
- Anisota virginiensisPink-striped Oakworm Moth
- Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
- Apamea amputatrixYellow-Headed Cutworm Moth
- Apantesis virgoVirgin Tiger Moth
- Apatelodes torrefactaSpotted Apatelodes
- Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
- Archips purpuranaOmnivorous Leafroller Moth
- Arctia parthenosSt. Lawrence Tiger Moth
- Argyrotaenia marianaGray-Banded Leafroller Moth
- Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
- Aristotelia roseosuffusellaPink-Washed Aristotelia
- Autographa amplaLarge Looper Moth, Broken-Banded Y, Climbing Looper
- Besma quercivorariaOak Besma
- Bibarrambla allenellaBog Bibarrambla
- Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
- Cabera variolariaPink-Striped Willow Spanworm Moth, Vestal Moth, The Vestal
- Callosamia prometheaPromethea Silkmoth, Promethea Moth
- Caloptilia stigmatellaPoplar Caloptilia
- Campaea perlataPale Beauty, Fringed Looper
- Catocala amatrixThe Sweetheart, Sweetheart Underwing
- Catocala blandulaCharming Underwing
- Catocala carissimaCarissima Underwing Moth, Southern Darling Underwing
- Catocala concumbensSleepy Underwing, Pink Underwing
- Catocala juncturaJoined Underwing, Arizonia Underwing
- Catocala marmorataMarbled Underwing
- Catocala meskeiMeske's Underwing
- Catocala partaMother Underwing
- Catocala piatrixThe Penitent, Penitent Underwing
- Catocala relictaWhite Underwing
- Catocala unijugaOnce-Married Underwing
- Cecrita biundataWavy-Lined Heterocampa
- Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
- Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
- Cerastis tenebriferaReddish Speckled Dart
- Choristoneura conflictanaLarge Aspen Tortrix
- Choristoneura parallelaParallel-Banded Leafroller, Spotted Fireworm Moth
- Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
- Citheronia regalisRoyal Walnut Moth, Hickory Horned Devil
- Cladara atroliturataThe Scribbler
- Cladara limitariaMottled Gray Carpet, Yellow-Lined Conifer Looper, Yellow-Lined Forest Looper, Black-Angled Wave
- Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
- Clostera albosigmaSigmoid Prominent
- Clostera inclusaAngle-Lined Prominent, Poplar Tent Maker, Poplar Leaf-Tier
- Coelodasys apicalisPlain Schizura
- Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
- Coleophora multipulvellaApple Pistol Casebearer, Pistol Casebearer Moth
- Coleophora pruniellaCherry Casebearer, Apple Leafmining Casebearer, Western Cigar Casebearer
- Colobochyla interpunctaYellow-Lined Owlet, Marsh Belle
- Colocasia propinquilineaClosebanded Yellowhorn
- Condylolomia participalisDrab Condylolomia
- Condylorrhiza vestigialisThe Alamo Moth
- Crocigrapha normaniNorman's Quaker
- Cucullia intermediaIntermediate Cucullia, Goldenrod Cutworm, Dashed Paint, Intermediate Hooded Owlet Moth
- Cyclophora pendulinariaSweetfern Geometer
- Cydia gallaesalicianaWillow Gall Moth
- Dasychira basiflavaYellow-Based Tussock Moth
- Dasychira obliquataStreaked Tussock Moth
- Dasychira vagansVariable Tussock Moth
- Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
- Digrammia gnophosariaHollow-Spotted Angle
- Digrammia mellistrigataYellow-Lined Angle
- Digrammia subminiataDark-Waved Angle
- Dysstroma truncataMarbled Carpet
- Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
- Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
- Egira alternansAlternate Woodling
- Elophila obliteralisWaterlily Leafcutter Moth
- Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
- Ennomos subsignariaElm Spanworm Moth
- Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
- Erora laetaEarly Hairstreak
- Euchlaena deductariaForked Euchlaena
- Euchlaena johnsonariaJohnson's Euchlaena
- Euchlaena marginariaOchre Euchlaena
- Euchlaena tigrinariaMotted Euchlaena
- Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
- Eudryas unioPearly Wood-Nymph
- Eueretagrotis attentusAttentive Dart
- Eueretagrotis perattentusTwo-Spot Dart
- Eulia ministranaFerruginous Eulia
- Euparthenos nubilisLocust Underwing
- Euphyia intermediataSharp-Angled Carpet Moth, The Intermediate
- Eupithecia columbiataColumbia Pug
- Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
- Euplexia benesimilisAmerican Angle Shades
- Eupsilia sidusSidus Sallow
- Eupsilia tristigmataThree-Spotted Sallow, Brown Fruitworm
- Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
- Evora hemidesmaSpirea Leaftier
- Fishia illocataWandering Brocade
- Furcula cinereaGray Furcula
- Furcula scolopendrinaHourglass Furcula, Zigzag Furcula Moth
- Gesta icelusDreamy Duskywing
- Glena cribratariaDotted Gray
- Gluphisia septentrionisCommon Gluphisia
- Gypsonoma salicicolanaSmall Gypsonoma
- Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
- Haploa clymeneClymene Moth
- Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
- Haploa reversaReversed Haploa
- Harrisimemna trisignataHarris's Three-Spot
- Hedya separatanaPink-Washed Leafroller Moth
- Herpetogramma pertextalisBold-Feathered Grass Moth
- Hyles lineataWhite-Lined Sphinx
- Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
- Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
- Hypercompe scriboniaGiant Leopard Moth, Great Leopard Moth
- Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
- Hyppa xylinoidesCommon Hyppa
- Ipimorpha pleonectusaEven-Lined Sallow, Blackcheeked Tentmaker
- Iridopsis defectariaBrown-Shaded Gray, Willow Looper
- Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
- Iridopsis humariaSmall Purplish Gray
- Iridopsis larvariaBent-Line Gray
- Lacanobia grandisGrand Arches
- Lacanobia subjunctaSpeckled Arches, Subdues Arches, Harnessed Mamestra, Speckled Cutworm Moth, Grand Arches?(incorrectly)
- Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
- Lithacodes fasciolaYellow-Shouldered Slug
- Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
- Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
- Lithophane heminaHemina Pinion
- Lithophane innominataNameless Pinion
- Lithophane laticinereaBroad Ashen Pinion, Russet Spotted Pinion, Triple-Spotted Pinion
- Lithophane lemmeriLemmer's Pinion
- Lithophane petulcaWanton Pinion
- Lithophane unimodaDowdy Pinion
- Lobophora nivigerataPowdered Bigwing, Two-Lined Aspen Looper
- Lophocampa caryaeHickory Tussock Moth, Hickory Tiger Moth
- Lophocampa maculataSpotted Tussock Moth, Yellow-Spotted Tiger Moth
- Lycophotia phyllophoraBrick Dart, Leafy Dart
- Macaria coortariaFour-Spotted Angle, Four-Spotted Granite
- Macaria ulsterataBirch Angle, Peacock Moth
- Machimia tentoriferellaGold-Striped Leaftier Moth
- Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
- Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
- Megalopyge opercularisSouthern Flannel Moth, Puss Caterpillar
- Meganola minusculaConfused Meganola, Confused Oak Punkie
- Melanchra adjunctaHitched Arches
- Melanchra assimilisBlack Arches
- Melanchra pictaPainted Arches, Zebra Caterpillar Moth
- Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
- Melanolophia signatariaSignate Melanolphia
- Melipotis jucundaMerry Melipotis
- Metanema determinataDark Metanema
- Metanema inatomariaPale Metanema
- Metarranthis duariaRuddy Metarranthis
- Micrurapteryx salicifoliellaWillow Leafblotch Miner Moth
- Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
- Morrisonia latexFluid Arches, Fluid Mamestra
- Nadata gibbosaWhite-Dotted Prominent
- Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
- Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
- Nycteola frigidanaFrigid Baileya, Frigid Nycteola, Frigid Owlet
- Nycteola metaspilellaSienna-Dotted Nycteola, Forgotten Frigid Owlet
- Ochropleura implectaAmerican Flame-Shouldered Dart
- Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
- Oedemasia leptinoidesBlack-Blotched Schizura
- Oedemasia semirufescensRed-Washed Prominent
- Olethreutes appendiceumServiceberry Leafroller
- Olethreutes fasciatanaBanded Olethreutes
- Operophtera bruceataBruce Spanworm
- Orgyia definitaDefinite Tussock Moth
- Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
- Orthodes majusculaRustic Quaker, Rustic Groundcat
- Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
- Orthosia revictaSubdued Quaker
- Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
- Pachysphinx modestaModest Sphinx, The Big Poplar Sphinx
- Paleacrita vernataSpring Cankerworm Moth
- Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
- Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Panopoda carneicostaBrown Panopoda, Hickory Panopoda
- Panopoda rufimargoRed-Lined Panopoda
- Paonias astylusHuckleberry Sphinx
- Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
- Paonias myopsSmall-Eyed Sphinx
- Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
- Paraleucoptera albellaCottonwood Leafminer
- Paranthrene tabaniformisDusky Clearwing
- Parasa chlorisSmaller Parasa, Green Slug Moth
- Pero ancetariaHubner's Pero
- Pero morrisonariaMorrison's Pero
- Phaeoura quernariaOak Beauty Moth
- Pheosia rimosaBlack-Rimmed Prominent, Mirrowbacked Caterpillar
- Phiaris glacianaFrosted Olethreutes
- Phigalia strigatariaSmall Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
- Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
- Phlogophora periculosaBrown Angle Shades
- Phobetron pitheciumHag Moth, Monkey Slug
- Phyllodesma americanaLappet Moth, American Lappet Moth, Southern Lappet Moth
- Phyllonorycter populiellaPoplar Leafminer
- Plagodis alcoolariaHollow-Spotted Plagodis
- Plagodis phlogosariaStraight-Lined Plagodis
- Plagodis pulverariaAmerican Barred Umber, Barred Umber
- Platynota idaeusalisTufted Apple-Bud Moth
- Pleuroprucha insulsariaCommon Tan Wave
- Pococera aplastellaAspen Webworm Moth
- Pococera asperatellaMaple Webworm
- Polia imbriferaCloudy Arches
- Polia nimbosaStormy Arches
- Prionoxystus robiniaeCarpenterworm Moth, Black Locust Borer, Cottonwood Borer
- Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
- Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
- Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
- Protitame virginalisVirgin Moth
- Protoboarmia porcelariaPorcelain Gray, Dashedlined Looper
- Pseudothyatira cymatophoroidesTufted Thyatirid
- Psilocorsis reflexellaDotted Leaftier Moth
- Pyreferra citrombraEyed Mustard Sallow, Citrine Sallow
- Pyromorpha dimidiataOrange-Patched Smoky Moth
- Pyrrhia exprimensPurple-Lined Sallow, Purple-Lined Sun Moth
- Raphia fraterThe Brother, Yellow-Marked Caterpillar
- Rheumaptera prunivorataFerguson's Scallop Shell, Cherry Scallop Shell
- Satyrium liparopsStriped Hairstreak
- Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
- Scoliopteryx libatrixThe Herald
- Selenia alcipheariaNorthern Selenia, Northern Thorn
- Smerinthus jamaicensisTwin-Spotted Sphinx
- Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
- Sphinx gordiusApple Sphinx
- Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
- Spiramater lutraDarling Mamestra, Splashed Arches, Otter Spiramater, Otter Arches
- Spodoptera eridaniaSouthern Armyworm Moth
- Sunira bicoloragoBicolored Sallow
- Synanthedon scitulaDogwood Borer, Pecan Borer
- Synchlora aerataWavy-Lined Emerald, Camouflaged Looper
- Syndemis afflictanaFall Dead-Leaf Roller, Gray Leafroller, Black-and-Grey Banded Leafroller
- Tetracis cachexiataWhite Slant-Line
- Tetracis crocallataYellow Slant-Line
- Thalera pistasciariaPistachio Emerald
- Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
- Tolype velledaLarge Tolype, Large Lappet Moth, Vellada Lappet Moth
- Tortricidia pallidaRed-Cross Button Slug
- Trichordestra legitimaStriped Garden Caterpillar Moth
- Xanthorhoe lacustrataToothed Brown Carpet
- Xanthotype sospetaCrocus Geometer
- Xystopeplus rufagoRed-Winged Sallow
- Zale lunataLunate Zale
- Zale minereaColorful Zale
- Eupithecia swettii
- Framinghamia helvalis
- Phyllonorycter scudderella
- Stigmella apicialbella
- Stigmella fuscotibiella
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
16Specialist beesPollen specialists
Pollen specialists · Salix
- Andrena andrenoides
- Andrena arenicola
- Andrena bisalicis
- Andrena clarkella
- Andrena erythrogaster
- Andrena frigida
- Andrena illinoiensis
- Andrena macoupinensis
- Andrena mariae
- Andrena nida
Show all 16
- Andrena nigrae
- Andrena salictaria
- Andrena sigmundi
- Andrena subaustralis
- Andrena wellesleyana
- Perdita maculigera
9BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Salix
- Acanthis flammeaCommon Redpoll
- Anser caerulescensSnow Goose
- Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
- Falcipennis canadensisSpruce Grouse
- Lagopus lagopusWillow Ptarmigan
- Lagopus leucuraWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
- Lagopus mutaRock Ptarmigan
- Pinicola enucleatorPine Grosbeak
- Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
Growing and identification
Plant details
- Family
- Salicaceae
- Hardiness
- Zones 4a–8b
- Soil pH
- Neutral to alkaline
- Flower color
- Gray/silver or white
Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.
Growing sources and scope
- Flower color · “Gray/silver or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Hardiness · “Zones 4a–8b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Height · “9 inches–1.5 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Soil · “Moist; Occasionally wet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Soil pH · “Neutral to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Spread · “9 inches–1.5 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Also known as
Basket Willow; Purple Osier; Purple Osier Willow; Purple Willow; Purple osier Willow
Conservation status
| Kentucky rank | SNA |
|---|---|
| Global rank | G5 |
| KY status | Not verified |
| Federal status | Not verified |
Sources
- tnky_atlas
- usda
- Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
- Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
- Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire 2020, Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species, Nature Communications