Salix nigra

black willow

Salicaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

To 60 ft tall by 30-40 ft wide

Life Span:

long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

deciduous

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Plant along streams or in informal landscape settings along ponds or canals.

Considerations:

Weak wood--tends to break.

Light:

Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---- to ---- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Clay, Loam, Organic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars



  • The catkins of  small bees and flies who feed on the pollen, wind pollinated.


  • Caterpillars of Limenitis archippus  (Viceroy) feed on the leaves of willows.


Native Habitats:

Floodplains.