Salix bebbiana is an upright, much-branched tall shrub is our largest willow species, reaching up to 10m in height. This species is common and widespread across the northern boreal regions of Denali, occurring in a range of habitats from floodplains to conifer forests to boggy areas. The branches are yellow brown to dark brown, wooly to almost hairless. The bark The leaves are elliptic, oblong or oblanceolate, with crenate margins on larger leaves. The upper side is green with impressed veins, the underside pale green, both surfaces with scattered curled long white hairs. Stipules are shed early in the season. Willows are dioecious (separate plants producing either male or female flowers), the flowers highly reduced and borne in catkins. The distinctive loose, long-stalked female catkins of this species appear at the same time as the leaves. The pistils are elongate, green and hairy, with long stalks (2-5 mm), and loosely spaced in the catkin. Fruits are capsules which split open by two valves to release many plumed seeds. The loosely-flowered female catkins with very long peduncles are distinctive in this species and can quickly visually separate it from other willows. The leaves with deeply impressed veins, pale undersides, and long curled white hairs are also diagnostic for Salix bebbiana. However, this species can hybridize with other local willows, making identification difficult.

Salix bebbiana flowers from mid-June to mid-July, male and female catkins appearing at the same time. Seeds are released in midsummer, but withered female catkins often persist over winter.

Like other willows, Salix bebbiana is dioecious, male and female flowers produced on separate plants. Willows are wind and insect pollinated. Seeds have a tuft of fluffy hairs to aid wind dispersal. Plants also spread vegetatively by sprouting from the stems and roots.

Wide ranging, occurs in wet to well-drained sites.