• Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Salix caroliniana

Carolina willow, coastalplain willow

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Carolina willow, coastalplain willow

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Salix caroliniana

Family:

Salicaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

25-60 ft tall by 20-40 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow

Fruit Color:

white

Phenology:

deciduous

Noted For:

Showy Fruits, Interesting Bark

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Casual lanscapes, moist areas, rain gardens or bioswales. This tree can be attractive most of the year due to its fairly fine leaves. It is at its best for a brief period in early spring when it blooms (yellow) and then sets masses of white fruit at a time when little else is blooming. Will tolerate root disturbance and flooding.

Considerations:

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Availability:

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Propagation:

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Light:

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Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Aquatic -to- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

Acidic to neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars

Larval host plant for Viceroy ( Basilarchia archippus ). 





The species is wind pollinated, but bees harvest pollend from the male flowers.  Observed species include  Dialictus nymphalis and D. tegularis (Deyrup et al. 2002).

Native Habitats:

Swamps, marshes, floodplains, glades around gator holes. Open, wet, sunny areas.

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Willow stems have been used for basketry and other woven wood structures such as fences and furniture. Willow sap contains salicylic acid, which is a natural ingredient of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid).

General Comments:

While generally a swamp plant, this tree can grow in uplands.  Stems root readily and most of the stems stuck in a moist substrate will survive without any further care. Is often used in stream bank restoration.