[2] The red willow is a small tree up to 45 ft (14 m) in height.

Like most other willows, it commonly grows along riverbanks and in other areas with high soil moisture.

In female red willows, the catkins turn into tufts of cottony seeds, which are windborn, often in large quantities, for 2-3 weeks in the spring.

Its distribution extends to the Virgin River canyon of southwestern Utah.

[2] The Kutenai called red willow mukwuʔk, and used it in basketry.