It is native to northern North America, where it occurs throughout Alaska and northwestern Canada.

The seed has a downy layer of fibers that helps it disperse via wind and moving water.

The seed remains viable for about a week, but it germinates within 24 hours of deposition upon a moist soil substrate.

Because it germinates quickly, it easily colonizes disturbed habitat, such as riverbanks scoured by recent floods and areas where glaciers have receded.

It grows in early stages of succession, and after a few decades, it is shaded out by poplars and other trees as the habitat turns into forest.

[2] Native Americans used parts of willows, including this species, for medicinal purposes, basket weaving, to make bows and arrows, and for building animal traps.