I always thought that there was a willow growing in my dacha. And in the spring, an acquaintance visited us (the tree was just blooming), and so he claims that it is a willow, since the catkins are yellow. Tell me, what is the difference between willow and willow?
Willow becomes popular in the spring, before Easter. On Sunday, all believers bring thin twigs to church services to consecrate them and bring them into the house. According to ancient beliefs, willow drives away evil spirits from the house and helps get rid of illnesses. But often willow twigs are used instead of willow, and many people think that this is the same crop, it just has two names.
In fact it's completely different plants and in order to understand what kind of tree is in front of you, you should know how the willow differs from the willow. It is very easy to distinguish them by the following characteristics:
- at the place of residence";
- along the crown;
- by time and characteristics of flowering;
- by color and shape of flower buds.
Concerning general characteristics, then both plants belong to the willow family.
Where do they grow?
Willow is one of the most undemanding plants when it comes to soil; it can be found both near the river and in the middle of the field. But willow prefers only areas where there is water nearby. The willow thickets along the river banks look very beautiful, descending their long branches directly into the water. It also grows in swamps, that is, wherever there is enough moisture in the soil.
What do they look like?
The willow's crown is denser and consists of rather thick shoots covered with brown-red bark that bend poorly. The branches bear round leaves.
Willow, on the other hand, has a transparent crown with drooping shoots, thin and very flexible. The bark on them is gray-green. In spring, narrow and long leaves with a pointed tip bloom on the branches.
Willow twigs take root very well and quickly produce new ones.
How do they bloom?
Perhaps flowering is one of the main differences between willow and willow. Not only is it different, but it also occurs at different times. The willow is the first to dawn - very fluffy, slightly elongated snow-white buds open on the shoots. The willow blooms after it and the flower buds on the branches are a little longer and smaller, but just as fluffy. But the color of the inflorescences is radically different - they are a beautiful soft yellow color.
Willow blooms in mid-spring, when there are already leaves on the branches, but willow blooms very early, before the leaves bloom on the tree.
Characteristic differences between willow and willow - video
Willow has long been an object of economic influence.
As a result of long selection best forms of this breed for cultivation, and also thanks to hybridization, varieties of willows have been obtained that are not found in the wild. Therefore, in describing the main species and varieties of willows, we divide them into wild and cultivated.
The genus of willow - Salix L. contains up to 200 species (in “Flora of the USSR”, vol. V, 1936, 167 species are described). The taxonomy of willows presents significant difficulties. In addition, not all of their types are equally valuable for the national economy. Therefore there is no need to present here botanical description all types of willows; we limit ourselves to describing only those of them that are most widespread, form large thickets, or have long been used as technical or medicinal plants, for producing rods in basket production, for reclamation purposes - consolidation and afforestation of loose sand, river banks, dams, etc., as well as for landscaping cities and towns and as melliferous plants.
Goat willow, delirium- Salix caprea L. A medium-sized tree, 6-10 m high and up to 75 cm in diameter; less often - a tree-like shrub. The bark, which is smooth and greenish-gray in color when young, acquires deep longitudinal cracks with age, especially in the lower part of the trunk. The exposed wood is smooth, without ridges, and turns red in the air. Young branches are grey-pubescent and darken with age. The buds are very large, bare, brown, 5 mm long, 3 mm wide. Stipules are lobed and fall off early. The leaves are highly variable in size and shape from ovate to lanceolate, 11-18 cm long and 5-8 cm wide, glabrous on top, wrinkled, dark green; the bottom is grey-felt. There are from six to nine lateral veins; they form wide rounded loops at the edges. The network of veins protrudes sharply. The main and lateral veins are mostly densely hairy. Young leaves with dense silky pubescence. Goat willow blooms before the leaves bloom, in April - May; her earrings are large and numerous; the axes of the earrings are fluffy.
In the forest zone, goat willow is almost always part of spruce-broad-leaved forests, in the types of sorrel spruce forests, complex spruce forests, stream spruce forests, and less often - blueberry spruce forests; in the forest-steppe zone it is usually found in deciduous forests. With the exception of the tundra, forest-tundra and alpine mountain belt, it is distributed throughout Europe.
Goat willow is used in a very versatile way. Its bark contains on average 16.5% tannins (in some specimens even 21%) - almost the same as the bark of the Australian acacia. Black paint is made from goat willow bark. Its rods are not suitable for weaving, but the wood is used in cold buildings, as well as for making arches and hoops, and can be used in the production of cellulose.
Goat willow is one of the earliest spring honey plants and pergonoses.
The high tannidity of the bark and the suitability of the wood for processing into pulp, buildings and small products make goat willow an extremely valuable and promising technical species.
The possibility of complex use and the ability of goat willow to renew itself well with shoots from the stump make it quite possible to organize specialized farms for this species, with the selection of high-tannid forms for the crop.
Cuttings of goat willow do not take root, and it must be propagated by seeds. However, its cuttings are easily grafted onto other types of willows that take root by cuttings.
This willow is decorative. Therefore, it can often be seen in single plantings.
Willow blackening- Salix nigricans S m. A shrub, less often a tree, 0.5-8 m high. Young branches are reddish, grey-tomentose, adult branches are from brownish-green to dark brown. The buds are long, curved at the top, and densely hairy. Wood on the surface without beads. Stipules are semi-ovate, toothed. The leaves are elliptical or lanceolate, widest near the middle, serrate along the edge, and often folded at the top, dark green above, pale or glaucous below, turning black when dried; the tip of the leaf is bright green. It blooms simultaneously with the leaves blooming. There are two stamens, one nectary, posterior, also one style, bipartite stigma.
Distributed throughout the European part of the USSR, except for the Black Sea region; in Western and Eastern Siberia, as well as in Western Europe does not occur. It grows scatteredly in forests - among bushes, along forest edges, and also in damp meadows.
Blackening willow bark contains from 6 to 16% tannins with a good quality of 50%; harvested together with other high-tannin species. High-tannidin varieties of blackening willow can be introduced into cultivation.
Ash willow, gray- Salix cinerea L. Shrub up to 5 m high with thick branches; one- and two-year-old shoots are densely covered with gray or dark, sometimes almost black, velvety felt. After removing the bark, the wood has ridges up to 1.5 cm long. The buds are distant, flattened, obtuse, brown, gray pubescent. Stipules are reniform, toothed. The leaves are obovate, short and almost awl-pointed, 4-12 cm long and 1-4 cm wide, dirty green above, depressed along the veins, grey-green below, with protruding veins, short-tomentose on both sides, finely serrated, with edges turned inward when blooming. It blooms before the leaves bloom or almost simultaneously with it, thus representing an early honey plant and pergonum plant.
Ash willow is very widespread in swampy places and grassy swamps, on the banks of drainage ditches, in damp mixed forests and in flood meadows. It forms extensive thickets, but more often grows in clumps and individual bushes.
The bark contains 12-14% tannins and therefore serves as the main raw material for preparing tanning willow bark. The twigs are used for sticks, coarse weaving (mostly from green twigs), fuel and fascinator.
Winter stem cuttings of this willow almost do not take root, but it is propagated well by seeds. It can also be propagated by grafting onto cuttings of easily grafted species. It is quite suitable for planting near ponds and in damp places, as well as for lining ditches. On the basis of natural thickets in one place, for example in a wide floodplain of a river, it is possible to organize a specialized bark farm.
Eared willow- Salix aurita L. Young branches of eared willow are fluffy, one-year-old ones are bare, reddish-brown, old ones are dark gray and ashy. The buds are small, ovoid, glabrous. After removing the bark, the wood is made with rollers. There are always crescent-shaped toothed stipules that persist until autumn; hence the name of this willow “eared”. Leaves are 0.8-4 cm long, 0.5-3 cm wide (their greatest width is usually in the upper part of the trunk, slightly above its middle), oblong-obovate, usually with a folded tip and wedge-shaped base, coarsely or finely toothed , wrinkled above, dull green, below with thick grayish fluff and a dense network of strongly protruding veins. It blooms before the leaves bloom or almost simultaneously with it. It grows in grass swamps in deciduous and mixed forests, almost everywhere in the European part of the USSR, with the exception of the Volga region, Crimea and Ciscaucasia, as well as in Western Europe, except for the Mediterranean.
The bark contains 11-15% tannins. Eared willow can be recommended for planting in damp and swampy places and along the banks of drainage ditches. Early honey plant and pergonos.
Willow bluish-gray- Salix livida Whlb. Shrub about 1 m high, with thin brownish-brown branches. Bare wood - no beads. The leaves in spring are reddish, thin, from obovate to broadly or narrowly elliptical, evenly pointed at both ends, green above, bluish below. There are two stamens, one nectary, posterior.
It grows throughout the USSR - in dry meadows, slopes and mixed forests.
Willow twig, hemp- Salix viminalis L. Shrub 5-6 high, up to 10 m. Young shoots are grayish pubescent or almost glabrous, adults are glabrous. Bare wood - no beads. Stipules are narrow-lanceolate, long-pointed, rapidly falling. The leaves are narrow, linear-lanceolate, 15-20 long and 0.3-2-4 cm wide (the widest below the middle), sharp, with an inward-turned edge, whole-edged, usually dark green above, densely covered with silky hairs below and therefore satiny - or silvery-shiny. It blooms before the leaves bloom or simultaneously with it.
Distributed almost throughout the USSR, with the exception of Crimea and deserts Central Asia. It grows exclusively on river banks and on periodically flooded islands, where it forms vast dense thickets.
Stem cuttings root easily. The one-year-old rod is of high quality, so it has long been widely used for wickerwork. From the wide variety of forms of this species, many valuable ones have been selected, which are widespread in culture and in green construction, where they are valued for the decorative appearance of their silvery leaves. Can be bred throughout the forest zone. The bark, containing 6-14 tannins, is also used for fiber.
Due to its heterogeneity over the vast area of its range, this species is already divided into several independent species. The most studied of them are the following:
A) True twig willow, basket willow- Salix vertviminalis Nas. Adult leaves of this species are narrow and long, 10-18 times longer than wide, usually linear-lanceolate, gradually tapering from the middle to the apex, elongated to a long end, wedge-shaped at the base, dark green above, completely shiny below, satiny-hairy. This species is common in Western Europe; in the European part of the USSR it is replaced by Russian willow.
V) Russian willow- Salix rossica Nas. Mature leaves are lanceolate, long, 7-10 times longer than wide, widest above the middle, covered below with thick, pressed, needle-shiny hairs. It grows in the European part of our country, in Western and Eastern Siberia and in Far East.
V) Iva Schwerina- Salix Schwerini E. Wolf. This species, like Russian willow, is very close to the Western European form - basket willow. His homeland is the Far East. It is distinguished by particularly fast growth and is easily propagated by cuttings. Its narrow, long, silvery-white foliage underneath makes it very decorative. Wood and rod are brittle, so they are valuable only as fuel.
Woolly willow- Salix dasyclados Wimm. Tall shrub, less often a tree 6-8 m high, with brown bark. Bare wood - no beads. Young shoots are densely pubescent, old shoots are bare. The stipules are very large. The leaves are lanceolate, 8-12 cm long, 2-3.5 cm wide, shortly pointed, dark green above, glabrous, grayish-satin or silky below. Blooms before the leaves bloom. Distributed almost throughout the USSR, especially in Western and Eastern Siberia. Grows along the banks of rivers and lakes. One of the fastest growing willows. It is used in the same way as twig or basket willow. Easily propagated by stem cuttings.
Willow Sakhalin- Salix sachalinensis F. Schmldt. Tree up to 30 m high and 20-25 cm in diameter; lives up to 50 years. The bark is smooth, yellowish-brown. The kidneys are pressed. Stipules are small and sharp. The leaves are lanceolate, narrowed towards the base, obtuse or pointed at the apex, 5-10 cm long, 0.5-3 cm wide, almost uniform in color and bare on both sides, dull green. It blooms simultaneously with the leaves blooming.
Distributed in the Far East, as well as in Japan and the Kuril Islands. It grows in river valleys, on damp slopes, and on forest edges in a mixture with other species. Fast growing species. Widely used for small buildings. Bast fiber is used to make ropes.
Purple willow, yellowberry- Salix purpurea L. Shrub 2-4 m high, with graceful thin branches. The bark is lemon-yellow on the inside, dark purple on the outside, sometimes with a bluish coating. The buds are small, appressed, red-brown, bare. Stipules are rare. The leaves are alternate, often almost opposite, 3-13 cm long, 0.8-1.5 cm wide, widest above the middle, entire, oblanceolate, soft bluish-gray, turning black after drying, very bitter in taste. It blooms before the leaves bloom or almost simultaneously with it.
It is confined to the more southern part of the USSR: to the north it reaches Mogilev, the south of the Moscow region, to the east - to the Volga. Found in Crimea, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. In the Volga region and Western Siberia This type of willow does not exist.
It produces an excellent flexible rod that easily splits lengthwise and is therefore used for the finest weaving. It is easily propagated by cuttings, so it is often bred on plantations. The bark contains 2-7% tannins and is not of interest in this regard, but it contains salicin (0.6-1.5%) more than other types of willows. Can be bred throughout the forest zone. However, in the north of the forest zone its shoots are damaged by frost; Therefore, the culture of this species with annual autumn cutting of one-year-old twig is desirable here.
Willow thin-leaved. A shrub with thin flexible branches of olive-brick color, shiny, bare, like the buds. The leaves are linear, 3.5-7 cm long, 4-6 mm wide, pointed, evenly serrated along the edges, completely glabrous, slightly green above, bluish-green below, usually turning black after drying. It blooms simultaneously with the leaves blooming.
Grows in Eastern and Southern Siberia, the Far East, Mongolia and Manchuria.
Gives a wonderful basket rod; suitable for strengthening banks. Due to the easy rooting of cuttings, several forms of this species selected in nature are now widely introduced into culture.
Caspian willow- Salix caspica Pall. A shrub 2-3 m high, similar to purple willow, from which it differs in narrower, alternate leaves. The leaves are linear-lanceolate or linear, narrowed at both ends, entire, glabrous, hard, dull above, glaucous below. It blooms almost simultaneously with the leaves blooming.
It grows in the territory from the southern Volga region to the Yenisei, in the desert and steppe zones, along the banks of rivers and lakes, as well as on sand. In the Volga region it is distributed up to the river. Samara. Gives a good flexible rod; used for weaving and also for strengthening sands. Very photophilous. Propagated by cuttings.
Several forms of this species have been introduced into culture.
Wolf willow, pussy willow, yellow shelyuga- Salix daphnoides Vill. A tree 15 m high and up to 20 cm in diameter, with thick branches, silky white in youth, light green, olive-brown and tempo-chestnut (but not red) in later life, covered with a bluish bloom. The bark is bitter. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, 7-10 cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide, narrowed at the base, short-pointed at the apex, widest in the middle, glandular-serrate, pure green. Stipules are ovate, early falling, short, glandular-serrate. Blooms before the leaves bloom.
The homeland of willow is the mountains of Central Europe, from where, due to the ease of its propagation by cuttings, it has spread widely beyond its range.
Good and early honey plant and pergonum. The bark is high in salicin but low in tannins. The rod is rarely used for basket weaving. Due to its rapid growth, unpretentiousness to soils (grows well on sand), ease of propagation by cuttings or even individual rods, it has long been a favorite object for decorative and protective plantings in the forest zone, especially for fixing moving sands.
Holly willow, red willow, red willow- Salix acutifolia Willd. The tree is 10-12 m high. It differs from the yellow shell by its thinner, twig-like branches of a red-brown, sometimes bright red color. The leaves are lanceolate, long-pointed, wedge-shaped at the base, 6-15 cm long, 0.7-1.2 cm wide, glandular-serrate, glabrous, shiny above, and bluish or greenish below. It blooms long before the leaves appear.
Distributed throughout almost the entire European part of the USSR, the North Caucasus, Western and Eastern Siberia and Central Asia. Finds even greater use in all cases listed for S. daphnoides Vill. For weaving and outing, not only branches, but also lint, reaching a length of 10-15 m. Frost-resistant and heat-resistant. A classic object for anchorage plantings on loose sand. Widely used for landscaping.
dewy willow Salix rorida Laksch. Tree 8-15 m high and 1-2 m in diameter. The bark has deep longitudinal cracks and falls off in sheets. It differs from the willow and holly willow by well-developed oblique or kidney-shaped stipules with glandular-toothed edges. It is used in the same way as shell.
Distributed in Western and Eastern Siberia and the Far East (middle and southern parts).
Three-stamen willow, belotal, almond- Salix triandra L. Shrub 5 m high, up to 7 cm in diameter, with elongated bare flexible branches of olive - or brownish - and yellowish-green color. The bark on old branches peels off in thin sheets. The leaves mostly have kidney-shaped, ovate, toothed, well-defined and long-lasting stipules. The leaves are lanceolate, pointed, serrate, glabrous, 14-15 cm long, 0.5-3.5 cm wide. Based on the color of the leaves, forms are distinguished with leaves that are dark green above and green below and dark green above, but glaucous and whitish-gray below. Blooms after the leaves bloom. There are three stamens (as an exception - two, four, five), up to 5 mm long, free. Nectaries in both male and female female flowers usually two.
It grows in the USSR almost everywhere, with the exception of the high mountain zone, the Arctic and Kamchatka. It forms thickets along the banks of rivers and lakes, mainly in the floodplain. Honey plant. The bark is rich in salicin (4-5%), tannins (10-12%, with a good quality of 50%). A decoction of bark and young branches is used to dye fabrics and nets in yellow. The rod, especially one-year-old, has high technical qualities and is widely used for weaving. On the basis of wild, pure thickets of this willow, specialized farms have been organized for the willow over large areas (along Lake Ilmen and in the floodplain of the middle Volga and Kama) with an annual cutting turnover. It is easily rooted by cuttings, and therefore many varieties and forms, bred artificially and selected from nature, are cultivated.
White willow, willow- Salix alba L. Tree 20-30 m high and up to 3 m in diameter; lives up to 100 years or more. The bark is dark brown, with deep cracks. Young branches are silvery-fluffy at the ends. Petioles - with glands at the top. The leaves are typically lanceolate, linear-lanceolate, pointed, often finely serrate along the edges, silvery-silky on both sides. It blooms simultaneously with the leaves blooming. Male flowers are lemon yellow, have two stamens (free), hairy below, the anthers are bright yellow. In male flowers there are two nectaries - anterior and posterior, in female flowers - one posterior, less often - two. The ovary is sessile or on a short stalk, mostly glabrous.
Distributed almost throughout the USSR, with the exception of Far North. In the wild it grows along the banks of rivers, streams, and in floodplains. In areas poor in forests, it is of great economic importance, especially due to its rapid growth. A good honey plant. The bark contains salicin (4-3%), but there are few tannins in it (up to 5%). A decoction of the bark is used to dye sawdust, wool and huskies, to which it gives a reddish-brown color. Ropes and ropes are made from bast fibers. The wood is used for cold buildings and especially for the manufacture of arches, hoops, troughs and other small products. For their decorative and other beneficial features is bred very widely. Sensitive to frost, severely damaged by insects. Recommended for single plantings, planting reservoirs and for new farms without tops throughout the USSR, except the Far North. Has a number of varieties.
Willow southern- Salix australior Anders. Tall, heavily branched tree. The branches are orange-red; young ones are pubescent, old ones are naked. The leaves are broadly or narrowly lanceolate, large, 5-8 cm long. Long pointed, large serrated. It blooms simultaneously with the leaves blooming. Two stamens, two nectaries.
Distributed in western and eastern Transcaucasia, Central Asia, where it is widely cultivated.
Willow brittle- Salix frugulis L. Tree 15-20 m high, up to 1 m in diameter; lives up to 75 years. The crown is wide, the bark has deep cracks, the branches are straight apart, slightly drooping, bare, shiny, slightly reddish or olive-greenish. The leaves are narrowly ovate-lanceolate, gradually elongated to a point, 5-7.5 in length, 1-2 cm wide, glabrous, glandular-serrate at the edges. It blooms simultaneously with the leaves blooming - in May, and bears fruit in June.
It is difficult to establish the range of brittle willow, since due to the good rooting of cuttings, it has long been widely introduced into culture. Distributed almost throughout the USSR, with the exception of the Arctic strip.
Honey plant. The bark contains salicin as well as tannins (about 10%). The wood is used for arches, shafts, troughs and other products, as well as for buildings. Suitable for topless farming. Can be recommended for lining the banks of rivers, canals, dams, streets, houses, etc. everywhere except the Far North.
Babylonian willow, weeping- Salix babylonica L. A medium-sized tree, 10-12 m high. 15-20 cm in diameter, with a picturesque translucent crown of long, thin, flexible branches hanging to the ground, reddish or yellowish-green, bare, shiny. The leaves are oblong or narrowly lanceolate, elongated towards the apex into a long, oblique point, gradually narrowed towards the base, finely glandular-serrate at the edges, dark above, bluish-green below, young ones - slightly pubescent, adults - glabrous. The stipules are obliquely lanceolate and ovate, serrated or awl-shaped, and in this case they are transformed into a spine. The petiole is about 1 cm, often glandular and always hairy. There are two free stamens. There are one nectaries in female flowers and two in male flowers.
The exact homeland is unknown, since for their decorative properties and the ease of propagation by cuttings is propagated everywhere. Babylonian willow has been introduced into culture in all countries of the world. North of Moscow it is freezing. Honey plant. Can be recommended for decorative plantings and for lining roads and reservoirs.
Many varieties and hybrids are bred in culture. The most decorative of them: var. annularis Asch. with leaves bent ring-shaped or spirally.
Willow five-stamen, chernotal- Salix peniandra L. Tree up to 16 m high, 15 cm in diameter, lives up to 80 years. The bark is dark gray or dark brown, cracked, shiny. The buds are ovoid, curved at the top, dihedral, brown, shiny; stipules glandular-toothed, falling off early. Petioles 0.2-1.4 cm long with many large glands, glabrous, often colored. The leaves are dense, leathery, dark green above, shiny, lighter below, 5-13 cm long, 2-4 cm wide, widest near the middle. It blooms in May-June, almost simultaneously with the leaves blooming. Stamens two - five - seven. Women's earrings are dangling, on rather long bare legs. It bears fruit in August-October, and open capsules, along with the entire fruit catkin, are often stored on the tree in winter.
Late ripening of seeds in autumn is characteristic only of this willow, and this feature is an important diagnostic sign.
Grows in peat and grass bogs, wet meadows, swampy valleys, damp forests. Distributed in forest-tundra, forest and steppe zones, in the mountains it reaches almost to the limit of the forest. It is found throughout Europe, northern and western Asia, Mongolia, Japan and China.
Late honey plant. There are few tannins in the bark (7-8%), which, given its low quality (25-35%), makes harvesting its bark unprofitable. The rod is suitable for coarse weaving and fascination. Can be recommended for lining streets, dams; Suitable for topless farming. It is frost-resistant. Along with the ease of propagation by cuttings, it also propagates well by seeds, and the seeds remain viable under the snow until spring and produce abundant shoots in the spring.
Family: willows (Salicaceae).
Motherland
Willow is found throughout Europe, grows in Russia, except the Far North, and also in Central Asia.
Form: deciduous tree or shrub.
Description
Willows are deciduous trees or shrubs, individual species of which can differ significantly from each other in external characteristics. The genus “Willow” has approximately 300 species, many of which are found in cultivation. As a rule, willows are distinguished by a transparent, see-through crown, thin, flexible shoots and narrow, pointed, elongated leaves. Willow flowers are small. Most willows reach a height of 10-15 m, but there are also tall trees- up to 30-40 m in height, as well as dwarf willows.
White willow (silver willow) , or willow . (S. alba). A large plant from 15 to 25 m tall and from 8 to 15 m wide. The trunk of the white or silver willow is powerful, the bark is gray. The crown is initially narrow-columnar, later spreading and widely rounded. The branches of the white willow are directed upward, the side shoots hang down slightly. The leaves are lanceolate, silvery-gray when blooming, then grayish-green. White willow flowers are yellow, with a pleasant aroma, bloom in late April and early May. White willow grows in sun or partial shade, is winter-hardy and wind-resistant. White willow grows quickly; lives up to 100 years. In nature, it is found throughout Europe, up to the Urals (except for the Far North). Silver or white willow has a weeping form (willow ‘Pendula’). The weeping willow is distinguished not only by its very beautiful crown, but also by the color of its shoots: in the spring the bark is bright yellow, and in the summer it is red-brown. The leaves of the weeping willow are also very decorative - narrow, light green, pointed. Weeping white willow easily propagates (summer and lignified cuttings).
Goat willow (S. caprea). A fast-growing large shrub or small tree from 3 to 12 m tall and 3 to 5 m wide with a short curved trunk and a rounded crown. The branches of goat willow grow vertically, the side shoots are spread out and raised. Goat willow leaves are round or broadly elliptical, light green, gray below, slightly pubescent. The flowers are yellowish-silver with a pleasant honey aroma. Root system goat willow is usually superficial. After 20-30 years of growth, goat willow becomes brittle. In nature, the plant is found in Europe and Central Asia. Goat willow is propagated by seeds, and decorative forms by grafting.
Willow brittle (S. fragilis). A medium-sized tree (sometimes a shrub) with a height of 5 to 15 m and a width of 6 to 8 m. Often brittle willow has a curved shape with several trunks. The crown is asymmetrical, rounded, openwork. Brittle willow grows quickly. The leaves are long, elongated, lanceolate; dark green above, bluish or pale green below; greenish-yellow in autumn. Brittle willow flowers are greenish-yellow, with a pleasant aroma, bloom in April-May. The shoots are yellowish or brownish, glossy, fragile, and take root easily. The willow root system is fragile, superficial, and wide. Winter-hardy, not wind-resistant. In nature, brittle willow is found from Europe to western Asia. The plant propagates by cuttings.
(S. purpurea). A large shrub from 2 to 10 m tall and wide with numerous shoots. The shape can be different - dome-shaped, funnel-shaped, umbrella-shaped. The shoots are densely growing and take root easily. The leaves of the purple willow are narrow-lanceolate, pale green above, bluish below; in autumn pale or golden yellow. The flowers of the purple willow are slightly curved, with a pleasant aroma, reddish, later turning yellow; bloom in April. The root system is deep (unlike most species of willows, which have a superficial root system). Well tolerated. Winter-hardy, wind-resistant. In nature, purple willow is found in central Europe and northern Central Asia.
Holly willow, or red-faced, or willow
(S. acutifolia). Shrub or tree up to 8 m tall with an oval crown. The shoots are purple-red, flexible, with a bluish bloom. The leaves of willow are long, linear-lanceolate, pointed; dark green above, shiny, bluish below. Norway willow is one of the most undemanding species of willow in terms of growing conditions. Holly willow propagates by cuttings or twigs. Krasnotal is frost-resistant.
Eared willow (S. aurita). Wide, slow-growing shrub from 0.5 to 2 m in height and width. The shoots are curving or horizontally spread, not dense. The leaves of eared willow are obovate, dull green above, bluish-green below, pubescent; become pale yellow in autumn. The root system is superficial. Winter-hardy and wind-resistant.
Ash willow (S. cinerea). Wide, semicircular, dense, large, fast-growing shrub from 3 to 5 m in height and width. The shoots are vertically growing, the side shoots are prostrate, partly hanging down to the ground. The leaves of the ashy willow are large, ovate, silky, bluish-green, do not change color in the fall, and fall in November. The flowers are elegant, silvery, later yellow with a sweet aroma, bloom in March-April. The root system of willow ash is superficial and powerful. Very frost-resistant, wind-resistant. Ash willow is found in nature in Central Europe.
Willow five-stamen , or blackened (S. pentandra). Tree or shrub up to 12 m tall with a rounded, dense crown. The leaves of willow five-stamen are narrowly ovate, pointed, long, leathery, dark green above, shiny, yellowish-green below. It blooms later than other types of willows - at the end of May. Gray fluffy catkins on female plants persist throughout the winter. Grows slowly; the plant is frost-resistant. In nature, five-stamen willow grows throughout the European part of Russia, in Western Siberia.
Babylonian willow (S. babilonica). A tree up to 15 m tall, distinguished by a very beautiful, large, weeping crown up to 10 m wide. The branches of this species of willow are hanging, flexible, yellowish-green, shiny. The leaves of the Babylonian willow are narrow-lanceolate, long, pointed, green above, shiny, bluish below. Babylonian willow grows quickly and is undemanding to growing conditions. The homeland of Babylonian willow is Central and Northern China.
Rosemary willow (S. rosmarinifolia). Wide semi-dwarf shrub from 1 to 1.5 (2) m tall and wide. The side shoots are initially vertically growing, later arched. Rosemary willow grows slowly. The leaves are linear-lanceolate, pale green above, white below, pubescent (fall in November). Willow begins to bloom in April; the flowers are yellow and fragrant. Frost-resistant, undemanding, wind-resistant. In nature, the plant is found in Europe, Central and Central Asia.
alpine willow (S. alpina). Dwarf willow with erect, densely leafy branches. Leaves are obovate. Alpine willow is unpretentious and grows on any substrate (in nature it grows on calcareous soils). In order for the plant to maintain a compact shape, it must be trimmed. Naturally, alpine willow grows in the highlands of Central and Southern Europe.
creeping willow
(S. repens argentea). A prostrate shrub less than 1 m high. The leaves are elliptical, silky, up to 2 cm long. Often grafted on a standard.
Growing conditions
Willows are light-loving and develop better in the sun, but some willows are shade-tolerant (goat willow, for example). Willows grow on different, not very fertile soils.
White willow prefers fresh or moist, fertile soils.
Goat willow grows well in sun or partial shade, is wind-resistant and winter-hardy, but can be sensitive to spring frosts. Goat willow grows in fresh, loamy soils; on light soils it drops its leaves earlier. High lime content in the soil should not be allowed.
Brittle willow grows in sun or partial shade, prefers fresh or moist substrates, from acidic to slightly alkaline; sandy loam, deep, with a small lime content. Purple willow grows in sun or partial shade (it tolerates shade better than other willows). This type willow is undemanding to soil, grows on different substrates - from relatively dry to moist, from neutral to very alkaline.
Holly willow (willow) grows even on poor, sandy soils.
Eared willow grows in sun and partial shade and prefers cool, damp places. Eared willow grows on any fertile substrate with a small lime content.
Ash willow grows in sun and partial shade and loves cool places. Ash willow prefers acidic, moderately fertile substrates, from moist to damp, and does not like lime.
Rosemary willow prefers sun and grows on any substrate from moderately dry to moist.
The following types of willow tolerate flooding well: white willow, brittle willow, purple willow, five-stamen willow, and ashy willow.
Goat willow and holly willow do not tolerate flooding.
Application
Willow cuttings and willow seedlings can be purchased at garden center or order online.
Diseases and pests
Willow is a resistant plant, rarely affected by diseases and pests.
Popular varieties
Forms and varieties of white willow
'Argentea'. Large tree up to 25 m tall. The leaves are shiny, first silvery, then dark green; in autumn - yellow. Numerous flowers bloom early in spring.
'Coerulea'. Large variety of willow (up to 20 m tall). The leaves are bluish-green above, lighter below.
'Limpde'. A big tree up to 40 m tall with a wide (up to 12 m) narrow-conical crown. The shoots are yellowish, later light brown. The leaves are lanceolate, long, green. Willow ‘Limpde’ flowers bloom in April-May. The plant prefers moist alkaline soils, is light-loving, frost-resistant, grows quickly, and does not tolerate waterlogged soils.
'Tristis'. A fast-growing tree from 15 to 20 m tall and 15 m wide with a wide, weeping, very decorative crown. The branches of willow ‘Tristis’ are yellowish. The leaves are shiny, green, later lighter, bluish below. The flowers are yellow, with a pleasant aroma. Willow ‘Tristis’ grows in sun or partial shade, in fresh or moist, fertile, alkaline soils. It is possible to grow this variety of willow on clay substrates or soils with excess moisture. Willow ‘Tristis’ is winter-hardy, but young plants freeze over in cold winters. Replant the plant better in spring before the buds open.
'Sericea'. A tree about 10 m high with a rounded crown and silvery leaves. It grows slowly.
Forms and varieties of goat willow
'Mas'. A large shrub or small tree from 5 to 8 m tall and from 3 to 6 m wide with a rounded crown and outstretched branches. The numerous, pleasantly fragrant flowers of the willow ‘Mas’ bloom in April (first silvery, then yellow).
'Pendula'. A small tree 1.5 to 2 or 3 m tall and 1.5 to 2 m wide. The crown is bell-shaped or umbrella-shaped, the branches hang down strongly. Weeping willow ‘Pendula’ blooms in April, the flowers are numerous, silvery, then yellow, with a pleasant aroma. Weeping goat willow needs to be pruned; without shaping it will not look nice. Goat willow ‘Pendula’ is propagating.
'Silberglanz'. A large shrub (rarely a tree) from 4 to 5 m tall and wide with outstretched branches. The flowers of this willow variety are large, silvery-yellow (April).
There are other varieties of goat willow (variations in leaf shape): variegated willow (variegata), broad-oval willow (orbiculata), round-leaved willow (rotundata), elliptical willow (elliptica).
Forms and varieties of purple willow
Forms and varieties of creeping willow
'Argentea'. A very decorative free-growing dwarf shrub from 0.3 to 0.5 m tall and up to 1 m wide. The leaves are elliptical or oval, small, white when blooming, with silky, silvery, shiny pubescence, later grayish; pale yellow in autumn. The flowers are first silvery, then yellow (bloom in late April-early May). The shoots of creeping willow ‘Argentea’ are thin, elastic, gray, pubescent, and later black. The plant prefers sun, cool, damp places. Creeping willow 'Argentea' is usually winter-hardy, does not tolerate dryness and high temperatures; wind resistant. Soils creeping willow ‘Argentea’ prefers fresh or moist, acidified to alkaline, rich in humus, sandy or sandy loam; creeping willow will not grow on heavy soils.
And you are deciduous trees or shrubs, some species of which may differ from each other in external characteristics. The genus “Willow” has approximately 600 species, some of which are found in cultivation.
Types and varieties of willow
Typically, willows are distinguished by a through, transparent crown, flexible, thin shoots and pointed, narrow, elongated leaves. Willows have small flowers. Most willows reach a height of up to 15 m, but there are also tall trees - up to 40 m in height, and also dwarf willows.
Willow brittle
The tree is about 15 m high and up to 8 m wide. Brittle willow sometimes has a curved shape with two trunks. The crown is round, openwork, asymmetrical. Brittle willow grows quickly. The leaves are elongated, long, lanceolate; green above, bluish below; in autumn green-yellow.
Brittle willow has green-yellow flowers that bloom in May. The shoots of brittle willow are brownish or yellowish, brittle, glossy, and easy to take root. Winter-hardy. In nature, brittle willow grows from Europe to Asia.
Goat willow
A large, fast-growing shrub or small tree up to 12 m in height and up to 6 m in width with a curved short trunk and a rounded crown. Goat willow branches grow vertically, the side shoots are raised and spread out. Goat willow leaves are broadly elliptical or rounded, green, gray below, slightly pubescent.
The flowers are yellow-silver with a honey aroma. Goat willow becomes brittle after 20 years of growth. IN natural conditions The tree is found in Central Asia and Europe. Willow is propagated by seeds, and decorative forms of willow are propagated by goat grafting.
Purple willow
Large tree about 10 m tall. The shape of purple willow can be different - funnel-shaped, dome-shaped, umbrella-shaped. The shoots take root easily and are densely growing. The leaves of the purple willow are green above, bluish below, narrowly lanceolate; yellow in autumn.
Purple willow flowers have a pleasant aroma, are slightly curved, reddish, then turn yellow. The root system of purple willow is deep. Tolerates pruning well. Winter-hardy. Purple willow is found in nature in central Europe and Central Asia.
creeping willow
In nurseries you can find the weeping variety "Armando" in standard form.
In early spring, the fluffy inflorescences of creeping willow "Armando" have pink and silver woolly scales. This beauty will not leave anyone indifferent. Then yellow anthers appear, and the willow is already different. After flowering, the shrub needs to be heavily pruned to encourage the growth of new young weeping shoots.
The leaves of the creeping willow "Armando" are shiny, green, and underneath they are gray-green. This variety of willow can be grown in the garden and in a container on the balcony.
Creeping willow "Argentea" is a prostrate bush with small, silky leaves. The rounded leaves sometimes have a blue tint. The round yellow inflorescences are small and few in number; they appear on the bush before the leaves bloom. It is possible to form creeping willow "Argentea" in standard form. In this case, you get a beautiful, miniature weeping tree.
White willow
Large plant up to 25 m in height and up to 15 m in width. The trunk of the white willow is powerful, the bark is gray. At first the crown is narrow-columnar, then spreading, widely rounded. The branches “look” up, and the side shoots hang down a little. The leaves of white willow are silver-gray when blooming, then gray-green.
The flowers of this willow are yellow and fragrant, blooming in late April. White willow grows in sun and partial shade and is winter-hardy. It grows quickly and lives up to 100 years. It can be found in nature throughout Europe.
White willow has a weeping form (‘Pendula’). The weeping willow is distinguished not only by its beautiful crown, but also by the color of its shoots: in summer the bark is red-brown, and in spring it is bright yellow. The leaves of the weeping willow are also very decorative - light green, narrow, pointed.
Babylonian willow
This beautiful weeping tree is one of the most beautiful decorations in the parks of southern Russia. Originally from the regions of Northern and Central China.
The tree is no more than 15 m in height, with a large, weeping crown about 9 m in diameter, formed by thin, flexible, yellow-green, bare, shiny branches hanging to the ground.
The leaves of Babylonian willow are pointed, narrowly lanceolate, finely serrated along the edge. Young foliage is green, slightly shiny, bluish below. Flower catkins of Babylonian willow are thin, short-petioled. The Babylonian willow blooms after the leaves bloom.
Grows quickly. Very effective in single group plantings near ponds and on the lawn.
Holly willow or pussy willow
Shrub or tree up to 8 m in height with an oval crown. Willow shoots are flexible, purple-red, with a bluish bloom.
The foliage of willow is linear-lanceolate, long, pointed; shiny, green above, bluish below. This willow is one of the most unpretentious species of willow in terms of growing conditions. Willow willow propagates by cuttings and twigs.
Willow whole leaf
In the natural flora it is found in the south of Primorye and Japan. Spreading shrub up to 3 m in height with curved stems at the base. The leaves of willow allifolia are narrowly oblong, oval at both ends, almost sessile.
Due to the soft green tone of the leaves and their arrangement, the shoots of this willow, extending obliquely and arched to the sides, are similar to the leaves of a fern, which gives the willow an unusually beautiful appearance. All-leaved willow blooms in May. During flowering it smells of hyacinth.
Looks beautiful near ponds in group and single plantings.
All-leaved willow "Hakuro-nishiki" (Hakuro nishiki) is a beautiful spreading bush or tree with drooping branches. Young foliage has spots of white and pink. On older leaves, the pink color disappears, and only some white streaks remain.
Rosemary willow
Semi-dwarf wide shrub up to 2 m in height and width. Initially, the side shoots grow vertically, then arcuate. This willow grows slowly. The leaves are green above and white below.
It begins to bloom in April, the flowers are fragrant, yellow. Frost-resistant, wind-resistant. Under natural conditions, rosemary willow is found in Central and Central Asia and Europe.
Iwa Matsuda
Distributed in Korea and China.
Tree up to 13 m in height, with a wide pyramidal crown, smooth trunk. The shoots are straight, thin, young - pubescent, yellow-olive, then bare, brown. The leaves of the Matsuda willow are narrow-lanceolate and long-pointed.
Photophilous, grows quickly, demanding soil moisture. Matsuda willow is propagated by lignified cuttings.
It has a decorative shape - with serpentine-curved, green shoots, growing in the form of a small shrub with an openwork crown.
