Sandbar Willow vs Sweet Gale

Sweet Gale is a native, nitrogen-fixing shrub known for its aromatic foliage. Tiny glands on the leaves release a balmy, bay leaf-like scent with floral and citrus notes. In spring, the yellowish male catkins provide one of the earliest sources of pollen for bees and other insects. While later in the season, the female catkins produce seeds that are eaten by waterfowl. Sweet Gale is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers occur on separate plants.

Sweet Gale thrives in wet, acidic soils and is commonly found along wetlands and lakeshores. It can help stabilize shorelines, while its dense growth provides valuable cover for wildlife. It is well-suited for naturalization, wetland restoration, and erosion control projects.

Sandbar Willow is a deciduous species native to much of North America. This mid-sized, fast-growing shrub can be found in very wet areas, making it an ideal plan to use in a wet area with erosion risk.

Sandbar Willow has long, narrow green leaves, and its grassy narrow stems give it an attractive, bamboo-like appearance.

All willow are important to native pollinators each spring as they have higher amounts of pollen and nectar early each growing season when other food sources are scarce.

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