How to identify White willow (Salix alba)
White willow, also known as Water willow, Cricket-bat willow, Sallow tree, Swallow Tail Willow
White willow stands tall at 50 to 70 feet (15 to 21 meters) with a weeping or rounded shape that is immediately striking. The bark exhibits a distinctive yellowish-brown hue, while the stems take on a yellowish-green color. The foliage comprises narrow, lanceolate leaves, which are medium to dark green above with a contrasting, silky white underside and serrate edges. Visitors in spring are greeted by separate male and female flowering catkins, the males up to 2 inches (5 cm) long with tiny yellow flowers, and the more diminutive females bearing tiny greenish blossoms. In the fall, the leaves turn a soft pale yellow.
Lifespan: Perennial
Plant Type: Tree
Leaf Type: Deciduous
Weeping or rounded shape, 50-70 feet (15-21 meters) tall
Distinct yellowish-brown bark with deep furrows and ridges
Lanceolate leaves with white silky underside, serrate edges
Male catkins up to 2 inches (5 cm) with yellow flowers
Female catkins with greenish blossoms, dioecious flowering
The leaves of white willow are 1.5 to 4 inches (4 to 10 cm) long and up to 5/8 inches (1.5 cm) wide. They are lanceolate, tapering, and simple with serrate margins. The leaves exhibit an alternate arrangement, with a medium to dark green upper surface. Their undersides are white and silky due to downy hairs, giving them a distinctive appearance. This combination of shape, size, and texture makes the leaves of white willow easy to identify.
The flowers of white willow are catkins, with male and female blooms on separate trees. Male catkins, up to 2 inches (5 cm) long, feature tiny flowers and yellow anthers. Female catkins, up to 1.5 inches (4 cm) long, bear greenish flowers. Blooming occurs from April to May. These distinct catkin structures aid in identification and underscore the plant’s dioecious nature, with separate male and female individuals bearing different floral morphologies.
The stems of white willow are characterized by their initial yellowish-green hue. As they mature, the stems become either smooth and shiny or dull in appearance. The buds on the stems are rounded. Stems typically exhibit a noticeable change in color and texture with age. Branching is common and well-distributed along the length of the stem, supporting the plant structure robustly. They can measure up to 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter, making them quite sturdy.
The fruit of white willow is enclosed in a small capsule, which upon maturity, divides into two valves. These capsules are a haven for numerous minuscule seeds adorned with delicate, silk-like hairs. When ripe, the seeds are a testament to nature's ingenuity, utilizing the slightest breeze to journey afar, ensuring the proliferation of white willow. Typically observed in a green hue that transitions to brown upon maturation, each fruit capsule is inconspicuous in size and forms part of a larger, clustered aggregate. This fruiting characteristic of white willow is integral to its recognition and understanding.
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Scientific Classification of White willow
