Salix nigra, the black willow, is a species of willow native to eastern North America, from New Brunswick and southern Ontario, west to Minnesota, and south to northern Florida and Texas. Vanessa Richins Myers has a degree in horticulture and more than 10 years of training and experience as a professional horticulturist and gardener. Willows include more than 400 trees and shrubs in the genus Salix, a group of moisture-loving plants that are native to temperate and cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Depending on the species, willows range in size, from shrubs that hug low ground to imposing giants of 90 feet or more.
All willows are moisture-loving plants that can live in wet, swampy areas, and some are adaptable enough to do well in dry soil. Most Salix species have lance-shaped leaves, although some species have narrower leaves (these species are known as wickers), while others have rounder leaves (most of these species are known as willows). Willow wood tends to be brittle, so the use of ornamental landscaping is limited to relatively few species. In landscapes, willows are often planted next to streams, where intertwined roots retain soil and prevent erosion.
Willows can also be used to create living fences or even sculptures, and branches are commonly used in basketry and weaving, as wood is flexible enough to bend once it has been soaked in water. Be careful when planting willows near sewer lines or water pipes, as their roots will naturally gravitate toward them. Most, if not all, willow species are moisture-loving plants that seek underground pipes that carry water. If willow roots penetrate a main water or sewer pipe, you could face thousands of dollars in repair and replacement costs.
Here are 12 water-loving willows and shrubs to consider. Regionally, you might hear the Bebb willow call other common names, such as willow beaked willow, gray bush, diamond willow, or long-billed willow. This species is known to easily hybridize with other willow species, so it is sometimes difficult to identify it precisely. This variety is favored by its twisted branches that can add interest during the winter.
It is a real tree rather than a multi-stemmed shrub plant. The corkscrew (willow) is also used as an accent in flower arrangements and as bonsai. Regionally, this plant goes by several other common names, such as curly willow, globe willow, Beijing willow, and twisted willow. Matsudana is closely related to the weeping willow, and some botanists consider it to be a natural variation of that tree.
Matsudana 'Tortuosa' is one of the most popular cultivars, with twisted branches; others include 'Golden Curls' and 'Scarlet Curls'. Also known as the coyote willow, it is a shrubby form of willow, which is often used to make flexible poles or construction materials. Rustic furniture is often made from the branches of this plant, which have attractive gray furrowed bark. Although this plant has a very wide natural distribution in most parts of North America, it is considered endangered or threatened in some parts of the eastern U.S.
UU. This plant may have other common names in different regions, such as dark willow and gray willow. In addition to its use as a source of building materials, it is sometimes planted and pruned as a small ornamental tree. It has a remarkable tolerance to different conditions and thrives in both drought and prolonged flooding.
This willow shrub works well as a specimen plant, as the leaves are varied and have shades of pink, green and white. Pink appears when the leaves first appear and fades to green and white as the season progresses. As an added benefit, the branches take on an attractive red color in winter. Growing from multiple stems, it works well in shrub borders or rain gardens.
Other common names for this plant include variegated willow, nishiki willow, Japanese spotted willow, Japanese variegated willow, and tricolor willow. This willow can also be sold under the variety name “Albomaculata”. Another willow with similar brands is Salix integra 'Flamingo'. The goat willow is one of several species of willows that is also sometimes known as common willow.
Goat willow is a large shrub or small tree that is often cultivated for its attractive puffy catkins. If kept well pruned, it is sometimes used for hedges and screens, or as a filler plant in swampy areas. Goat willow is one of the few species of willows that is not easily propagated from cuttings, so a male and a female plant will be needed for proper pollination and seed production. In addition to common willow, this plant may be known regionally by other common names, such as common ketronia, common willow and French common willow.
Like its common name, the leaves of this willow tree look similar to the leaves of the peach tree. Like the goat willow, propagation is done by seeds, since the cuttings take root with difficulty, if at all. It is a fairly large tree that grows quickly, but does not live to old age. Can be used to quickly fill in bare areas and control erosion.
In natural environments, it can often be found growing next to poplars. Other common names for this plant include almond, willow, and Wright's willow. The purple wicker willow is a shrub that has purple stems and blue-green leaves when the plants are young. It can handle some shade and dry soil.
It is normally planted to control erosion along streams and lakes. It can also be planted as a hedge. The attractive flowers and stems can be used in crafts. This willow has been used to treat pain, due to the presence of salicin in its bark.
Other common names for this plant are basket willow, Alaskan blue willow, purple willow, and arctic blue willow. Along with the goat willow, this is the species of American willow that goes by the common name common willow. Willow is commonly cultivated for use in the floral design industry. In landscapes, it sometimes appears in hedges and rain gardens.
Unlike the goat willow, which has multiple shrub-shaped stems that grow from the ground, S. Decolor can be in the form of a small tree or a shrub with a central stem. Other common names for this plant are American Willow, Glaucus Willow, Big Willow, and American Willow. Scouler's willow is a multi-stemmed tree that tolerates drier conditions than many willows.
This is another popular diamond willow for carving and was discovered by Scottish naturalist John Scouler. It is sometimes planted as a hedge or to control erosion along a body of water, although caution is recommended, as this plant can be invasive and can quickly take over the landscape, especially after a fire or logging. The common willow is an important source of navigational vegetation for deer, elk and other wildlife. It is an unusual willow because of its willingness to grow close to other trees, and often appears in mixed forests.
Other common names for this willow are fire willow, black willow, and western vagina willow. The weeping willow is perhaps the best known of all landscape trees with a weeping habit. It works well to adorn the edges of a pond or lake, but it can also be used as a specimen landscape tree in larger gardens. The branches will sway delightfully in the breeze, although stronger winds can break some of the stems and dirty the ground.
He plans to replace it in about 30 years, since weeping willows are not long-lived. However, as it grows to full size, it can add up to 10 feet each year. The white willow can sometimes be infected by fungi that produce the characteristic of the diamond willow. Its name comes from the fact that the leaves are white underneath.
It is not a good tree in most landscape situations because of its weak wood and enormous size, but it is sometimes used to fill in places with low humidity. A popular variety, Salix alba 'Tristis', is sold as a golden weeping willow. The stems are often used in basketry. This is an extremely large and fast-growing tree, so be sure to plant it in a location with enough space.
The yellow willow is a shrub form that can approach the size of an upright tree. It is the favorite food of moose, elk, sheep and beavers. It is found naturally in much of western and central North America and is sometimes planted to repair areas that have experienced flooding, erosion, or other problems. It reproduces easily both through cuttings and seeds.
Salix exigua (narrow-leaved willow) plant profile. United States Department of Agriculture, Legal Status Salix purpurea 'Nana'. Information sheet on careful harvesting of birch, cedar and willow wood from the Missouri Botanical Garden. More than 100 species of willows are native to North America.
Most are shrubs or dwarf shrubs, but about forty species reach the size of a tree. Willow species tend to hybridize with each other and this, together with their relatively large species richness, can make it difficult to identify some of the willows. The goat willow is also evident when you see male catfish, but in the case of the crack willow, as the name suggests, the twigs break easily if you bend them slightly, and there may be broken branches under the tree that the wind has broken. It takes the form of a tiny tree or shrub, depending on the habitat, and is commonly found along streams in the Mojave Desert at 1500 meters high.
This is a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree that grows naturally in thickets next to streams, lakes and swamps. The white willow species is one of the largest and fastest-growing willows, often exceeding the 80-foot mark. You may live in a region beyond the recommended hardiness zone, but planting in soil with a slightly low pH and adequate drainage will help your tree grow. It is not recommended to plant one near the house or other trees because it risks damaging strong roots.
All members of Salicaceae are shrubs or trees with simple leaves in alternate arrangements, and all are usually deciduous. Willow leaves (17) contain the salicin found in aspirin, making them among the most prescribed medications in the world. The average lifespan of a willow is 30 years, unless in exceptional cases and with proper care and maintenance. Colored spots form on the various parts of the willow, which then enlarge and gradually kill all infected parts.
On the other hand, Tennessee is in zone 7, half of the areas required for willows, so it's an excellent place to plant one. Densely branched and foliated trees that protrude from streams and other riverside environments reduce water temperatures, which benefits cold-water fish species, such as trout and perch. In the case of North Carolina, the state is divided into zones 7 and 8, and any of them can encourage willow growth. .
