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Willow, botanically known as Salix, is a relatively large group of sun loving deciduous trees and shrubs typically with weak wood due to their rapid growth. They typically have long, narrow leaves and soft, fuzzy catkins which in spring give them all the nickname of Pussy Willow. While tolerant of many soil types Willows tend to like the wet though some can tolerate drought. Because of this preference for moist soil they have a reputation, and not all together an unfounded one, for being trees with destructive, invasive roots which can cause massive amounts of damage to home foundations and septic systems.
This, however, is only true of some varieties of Willow. Most are perfectly fine for the home landscape and can be placed in areas where they will cause no damage and look spectacular. The Willow, or rather some varieties, are the plant from which we get a powerful fever reducing, body ache relieving analgesic making it a desirable plant for the homeopathic gardener.
Another miraculous thing about the Willow is its ability to root with the slightest bit of help. Large 6-8 foot long branches have been known to root in water after falling off of the tree in a storm. These branches can then be planted to form instant 6-8 foot high trees. Know any other tree that can do that? This wonderful rooting ability so abundant in Willows can be used to make cuttings of other plants root more readily. Homemade rooting hormone from a willow branch. Imagine that!
Yes, the Willow is quite a remarkable plant and should be better known and better understood. With that in mind let us take a closer look at the many types of Willow, some of which may be completely unknown to you but worth it for you to get to know.
Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica).
Arguably the best known, prettiest and most beloved of Willows, the Weeping Willow stands an impressive 30-50 feet tall with equal spread. Like its name implies the long, graceful branches have a weeping form at times brushing the ground with their tips. Many a little kid or impassioned lovers seeking a hiding place have found the perfect spot under these trees. Loving the wet this tree grows best by a body of water and looks especially nice reflected in a pond or lake’s surface. The foliage is one of the first to come out in spring and has a lovely light spring-green color. Leaves are 3-6 inches long and slender turning a pale yellow for autumn. Hardy in USDA zones 5-8 this tree makes a wonderful shade tree for a large, sunny open lawn. “Niobe” is a particularly lovely cultivar with young stems a bright yellow color.
Wisconsin Weeping Willow (S. blanda )
This is a hybrid of S. babylonica. It grows 40-50 high spreading a bit wider but with a less weeping form. The leaves have a blue tint and are more broad than S. babylonica. This cultivar is resistant to blight and borers. Hardy to USDA zones 4-9.
Pussy Willow (S. discolor)
The true Pussy Willow is a shrub or small tree reaching about 20 feet high at maturity. While the attraction for this plant is the appearance in spring of the famous pearly gray catkins of the male plant ( usually only male plants are readily available at nurseries) the Pussy Willow also has pretty reddish brown stems contrasting well against snow and making a nice silhouette in the winter garden. This Willow can be easily maintained smaller just by the annual trimming of branches in late winter or early spring for display indoors. Hardy to USDA zone 3-9.
Corkscrew Willow (S. matsudana tortuosa)
A dramatic character for the garden Corkscrew Willow gives something to appreciate at every season. Upright growing to about 30 feet tall and 20 feet wide this low-canopied tree sports twisting, spiraling branches perfect for indoor dried flower arrangements. Its slender 2-4 inch long leaves are somewhat curling and a bright spring green. Does well in drier yards but like most Willows propagates quite easily in water. Would make an unusual tall hedge and an effective windbreak. Hardy in USDA zones 5-9.
French Pussy Willow (S. caprea)
Growing very similar to the Corkscrew in shape and size, although with straight stems, French Pussy Willow is valued for the 1 inch long, slightly pink tinged, fat, wooly catkins. Hardy in USDA zones 5-9 this small tree can be kept to a manageable shrub size simply by cutting back the oldest branches every year and snipping off the longest branches in early spring for indoor enjoyment. Quickly propagates in water or just by sticking branches into moist soil. Makes an excellent windbreak or tall, thick hedge.
White Willow (S. alba)
75-100 feet high at maturity, the White Willow has a upright growth. The bark is a yellowish brown and the foliage, 1-4 inches long and slender shaped, is a bright green on top and a silver color underneath turning a golden yellow for autumn. Hardy in USDA zones 3-8.
When looking for a tree to give your yard some character, any one of these Willows should do it rather nicely. You don’t even need to have a huge yard for some of them. The added bonus is you could snip off branches of these Willows for displaying indoors to welcome spring in the most delightful way. Willows are wonderful, no doubt about it.
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Author Bio Box: Glory Lennon
 Short Stories @ Helium: http://www.helium.com/users/32782/show_articles
How to create your own backyard bird sanctuary: http://www.helium.com/zone/2884-how-to-create-your-own-backyard-bird-sanctuary
Tree Zone: http://www.helium.com/zone/2774-
Shrub Zone: http://www.helium.com/zone/2881-
Violet’s in Bloom, a romance novel: http://www.helium.com/zone/3012-violet-in-bloom-a-romance-novel-by-glory-lennon
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