Your first knowledge of the legendary willow tree must be from Pocahontas or the Lord of the Rings.
Aside from that, willow trees are also commendable for landscapes, especially in makinglive fences.
So, if you are ready for everything about willow trees, read on.
It is also present in historical archives.
As such, one can say that it is truly a symbolic tree.
True to this, here are some symbols attached to the willow tree.
They are also known for their branches following a drooping habit, a bit soft, brittle and twisted.
Here are some categories of willows that could help you identify willow trees too.
Yellow catkins of the almond willow appear during spring, along with its foliage.
It is a medium size willow, growing to only 35ft.
It is, however, prized for its many uses.
One, it is extensively used in honey production through producing nectar.
Two, it is also used in basketry and as a biofuel source.
The inner bark of almond willow is also dried and powdered to be used as flour.
Overall, it is also a good ornamental shrub for hedging and for soil erosion control.
They are also popular in landscaping specifically in rain gardens and in hedges.
This one grows from a central stem which can be shaped like topiary.
It is also usually planted along ponds and riverbanks as border plants.
It grows in between 2-25ft with up to 12ft of spread.
It has red branches, and small green leaves.
It is a small willow shrub which is perfect for rocky, winter gardens.
It grows to just 5ft max.
Its dull green leaves are ovate, lancing, and smaller than the leaves of most willow trees.
It is also called the diamond willow because the unique diamond marks on its twigs.
The bebb willow is used mainly for carving and woodwork.
It is not that popular for landscapes because it is prone to diseases and does not last very long.
Nonetheless, once its roots have been established, it is basically drought resistant.
5.Brittle Willow (Salix Fragilis)
This one is also called the crack willow.
It is interestingly called as such because of its distinct twitching sound whenever the branches fall or break.
It is sometimes mistaken for the white willow because of its light green, small, and ovate leaves.
Unlike some willows, this one does not have a hairy underside.
Nonetheless, male crack willows produce yellow catkins while females produce white ones.
It grows to up to 40ft, with twisted branches, cascading in random directions.
This one is endemic in Europe and Western Asia.
It grows from multiple, crooked stems and reaches a height of 20-40ft and at least 20ft of shade.
It is also called the Scarlet Curls.
It is perfect as a border plant or as a focal point in winter gardens.
It grows to only 10ft (some cultivars grow to up to 15ft).
It is hardier than most willow types as it could tolerate a wide range of soils and climates.
It also has the signature arching branches but it would not reach the ground.
It only grows at a max height of 5ft and is also called the snowbed willow.
Male dwarf willows produce red catkins while females produce yellow catkins.
Its bark is also notable for its dark grayish brown color and branches that turn smooth in maturity.
Propagating the goat willow requires pollination which is harder than most willows that only require cuttings.
10.Golden Willow (Salix Alba Var.
Vitellina Yelverton)
This one is a hybrid willow, made from cross breeding weeping willow and alba.
This is also where it gets its name.
It grows up to 70ft with a shade that goes to 40ft.
It is good for hedges, borders, and screens.
It could grow to up to 26ft in a bushy growth habit.
It creates a dense foliage composed of glossy, and oval shaped deep green leaves.
This one is also a part of the pussy willow family, blooming white catkins during spring.
This one can be found in canyons and marshes.
It is also called the coyote or sandbar willow.
Growing to up to 15ft only, it is also used in making rustic design furniture.
It has a dark gray bark with vertical furrows.
It tolerates drought and flood prone areas as well as a range of climatic conditions.
It has been listed as endangered due to the demand for it in construction.
Nonetheless, it is still planted as container shrubs used as ornamental plants in home landscapes.
It grows either from single or multiple stems and grows in between 13-90ft with a spread of 35ft.
Its foliage is olive green, narrow, lancing leaves, finely serrated edges and with white undersides.
It produces yellow green catkins in the spring that are less fluffy than the catkins of pussy willows.
It does not grow tall (just reaching 10-12ft).
It has the typical cascading branches of weeping willows, with long, narrow, glossy blue green leaves.
It is planted for hedging and in erosion control.
Its leaves are lancing, with a pointed base, wavy, toothed margins, and brown green color.
It is made scenic by its white catkins and hairy fruits.
It gets its name from its discoverer, John Scouler.
It is native to China and is a fast-growing willow that reaches 80ft at maximum.
Its weeping form is due to its pendulous growing habit.
Its leaves are long, narrow, and yellow brown most days but turns bright yellow during winter.
It also blooms buttery yellow flowers during spring.
It makes a beautiful focal point in large landscapes or in pond and lake edges.
It is beautiful during windy days as the branches sway with the softest breeze.
This is the iconic willow tree from the movies.
Its stems are yellowish to white and drop in a cascading form.
It grows in between 50-100ft and the stems are used in basketry.
This one is a very fast-growing willow which grows along river and stream banks as well as in ponds.
It has light green and glossy leaves with an ovate shape but elongated, arranged in an alternating pattern.
The stems are reddish green and bloom yellow green catkins during spring.
Sun and shade
Willows need four hours of direct sunlight every day.
Plant them in locations where they get full sun and partial shade.
Water
During the first year of growing, willows need to be watered every week.
Fertilizer
Overall, willows do not require fertilizer.
Pruning
Regular pruning is required during the willows early years.
After that, only prune during late winter or early spring to maintain its shape.
Where do willow trees grow?
Willow trees extensively grow in moist locations and where they could get full sun.
How fast do willow trees grow?
Willow trees are generally fast-growing trees.
They have a growth rate of 10ft per year.
However, they fall short on lifespan.
Do willow trees have flowers?
They are technically called catkins.
Most willow trees produce green, yellow, and white fuzzy catkins during spring.
Some notable ones like pussy willows and the purple willow produce red, purple, and pink catkins.
Do willow trees lose their leaves?
Willow trees shed their leaves from late fall to early winter.
The foliage grows back denser at the sight of spring.
What are willow trees good for?
Here are some of the common hybrid willow tree problems that you should be on the lookout for.
Can you grow a willow tree from a branch?
It would require frequent watering during propagation and until it establishes roots.
Should I plant a weeping willow in my yard?
If you have a vast yard, you’re able to.
It is a good filler plant, with ornamental value for hedging and borders.
Where to buy willow trees?
Here are some stores where you could score willow trees.
