Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountain States and to northeastern North America.

Habitat: Stream banks, margins of marshes, lakes and bogs, and on alpine slopes.

Flowers: April-July

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

: Monoecious, deciduous shrubs 1-3 m. tall, the young branches puberulent, resinous with crystalline glands, the bark becoming reddish-brown, not peeling.

Leaves alternate, leathery, the blades usually oval or oblong-elliptic, 1-2 cm. long, finely serrate, glandular on both surfaces, bright green and glabrous above, paler and usually pubescent beneath.

Staminate catkins elongate and pendulous, 1-4 per cluster; pistillate catkins erect, 1-2.5 cm. long and 3-5 mm. thick, the naked flowers subtended by a 3-lobed bract, usually glabrous, the middle lobe narrower and longer than the other two.

Samara oval in outline, usually glabrous above, the wings obscure.