Salix nigra

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Black Willow

Salicaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:Tree
Size:To 60 ft tall by 30-40 ft wide
Life Span:Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:NA
Fruit Color:NA
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.
Propagation:Seeds and stem cuttings.
Availability:Native nurseries, Quality nurseries
Light: Part Shade
Moisture Tolerance:
always floodedextremely dry
 (Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry)
Moisture Tolerance: Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance:Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
Soil or other substrate:Clay, Loam, Organic material (muck)
Soil pH:Highly acidic to circum-neutral

Ecology

Wildlife:
Insects:
  

  • 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.

Distribution and Planting Zones

Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones

Suitable to grow in:
8A 8B 9A 

USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures

Comments

Ethnobotany:Willow stems have been used for basketry and other woven wood structures such as fences and furniture. Willow sap contains salicylic acid, which is a natural ingredient of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid).
General Comments:While it naturally occurs in or near wetlands, this tree can also grow in uplands. Stems root readily and most of the stems stuck in a moist substrate will survive without any further care. Is often used in stream bank restoration.