Black Willow, Gulf Black Willow, Swamp Willow, Sauz, Salix ambigua, Salix denudata, Salix dubia, Salix falcata, Salix flavovirens, Salix ligustrina, Salix ludoviciana, Salix nigra var. altissima, Salix nigra var. brevifolia, Salix nigra var. brevijulis, Salix nigra var. falcata, Salix nigra var. lindheimeri, Salix nigra var. longifolia, Salix nigra var. marginata, Salix purshiana
A fast-growing tree, Salix nigra (Black Willow) is a medium to large deciduous tree boasting several trunks topped by a graceful open, spreading to rounded crown with stout branches. In spring and summer, it bears narrow, lanceolate, finely serrate, medium to dark green leaves, 5 in. long (12 cm), tapering to elongate tips. They usually turn greenish-yellow in the fall, before falling to the ground and revealing the silhouette of the tree. Black Willow is dioecious, with male and female flowers appearing in delicate yellowish-green catkins, 2 in. long (5 cm), on separate male and female trees. Blooming in mid to late spring, they give way to reddish-brown capsules with wind-borne seeds. The dark brown bark becomes deeply furrowed with age. The wood is soft and weak, making it susceptible to wind damage. Rather short-lived, Black Willow is the largest and only commercially important willow in North America. It makes a spectacular specimen tree near ponds and streams where it can be reflected for double the pleasure. Its shallow, spreading root system makes it a valuable tree for stabilizing soils, and it is an excellent species for reducing erosion of stream banks, bars, and islands. Great for attracting wildlife: birds eat the buds and flowering catkins, deer eat the twigs and leaves, and rodents eat the bark and buds.
| Hardiness |
4 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Trees |
| Plant Family | Salicaceae |
| Genus | Salix |
| Common names | Black Willow, Willow |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Height |
30' - 60' (9.1m - 18.3m) |
| Spread |
30' - 60' (9.1m - 18.3m) |
| Maintenance | Average |
| Water Needs | Average, High |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Southwest, Southeast, Northeast, Midwest, Ohio, Kansas, Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma |
| Tolerance | Wet Soil |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Ponds And Streams |
| Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow |
| Hardiness |
4 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Trees |
| Plant Family | Salicaceae |
| Genus | Salix |
| Common names | Black Willow, Willow |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Height |
30' - 60' (9.1m - 18.3m) |
| Spread |
30' - 60' (9.1m - 18.3m) |
| Maintenance | Average |
| Water Needs | Average, High |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Southwest, Southeast, Northeast, Midwest, Ohio, Kansas, Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma |
| Tolerance | Wet Soil |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Ponds And Streams |
| Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow |
How many Salix nigra (Black Willow) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Salix nigra (Black Willow) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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