MacCalla's Willow

About MacCalla's Willow in Alberta

MacCalla's willow is a native Alberta wetland shrub of boreal and foothill fens, swamps, peatlands, and other slow-drainage wet systems rather than a dry-land or ornamental willow. It is usually a medium shrub with glossy leathery leaves, pale lower surfaces, and velvety fruit, making it one of the more distinctive Alberta wetland willows when fertile material is available. For Ancient Roots Alberta, it matters primarily as part of intact native wetland shrub communities and long-persistent peatland structure rather than as a large specimen willow.

Identification: Leaves are leathery and notably glossy, with paler lower surfaces that are not strongly blue-glaucous in the Alberta field material. Margins usually have small rounded gland-tipped teeth. High gloss on mature leaves is one of the most useful field marks.

Alberta range and habitat: MacCalla's willow is native in Alberta and is best understood as a wetland shrub rather than as a common open-prairie or urban species. Alberta sources place it especially in fens, swamps, peatlands, and other slow-drainage wetland systems.