Quercus

Silky Willow

Salix sericea

Native to Kentucky (estimated)

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

281CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including KY

Genus host records with ranges including KY · Salix

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
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
39BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Salix

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
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
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
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
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Salicaceae
Hardiness
Zones 3a–8b
Soil pH
Acidic to neutral
Flower color
Brown/copper, yellow or green
Growth rate
Rapid
Growth habit
Several stems
Foliage color
Green
Fruit begins
Spring
Fruit ends
Spring

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Silky Willow

Conservation status

Kentucky rankS5
Global rankG5
KY statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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