aboriginal to much of eastern North America as far west as the Rocky Mountains , the black willow ( Salix nigra ) is a large , fast - produce deciduous tree acknowledge for its dark barque . This species grows in the first place in river banks , floodplains and other wetlands . The dim willow Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree can exist wintertime in USDA flora hardiness zona 4 to 9 .
Black Willow Tree Identification
The black willow tree is one of the largestspecies of native willows , with a height between 30 and 60 feet . This willow tree gets its common name from its barque , which is a gray , dark dark-brown color and has a rough , leprose grain and deep furrow .
pitch-black willow folio are dim-witted , narrow-minded and lance - shaped with fine serrate edges and a duration of up to 6 column inch .
Meanwhile , fateful willow flowers , which are yellowish - green in color and grow on catkins , are not sporty . These trees are dioecious , which means that male and female flowers grow on disjoined trees . The manful catkins emerge in the beginning than the female catkins .
Black willow trees create yield in the form of reddish - browned capsules that control many seeds .
Growing Black Willow Trees
The pitch-black willow tree grows skillful in full sunshine . As long as it has hatful of soil wet , it can uprise in a assortment of soil case , include acidic and alkaline soil as well as Lucius Clay and sandy soils .
Tip
Black willow trees thrive in wet soil and do not handle drouth well .
Black Willow Pests and Diseases
Trees in the willow family , including sinister willow tree , are direct by a numeral of dirt ball pests , including tent caterpillars , willow sawflies andaphids , which are diminished insect that feed on the plant sap that they take out from the undersurface of leafage .
You should note , however , that not all of the worm that you might spot on a black-market willow tree are harmful to the tree . This Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is also an crucial host for the larvae of several butterfly stroke mintage , including the eastern tiger swallowtail , the viceroy , the mourning cloak and several types of bee and other pollinator .
These tree are also prostrate to fungal disease that have crown galls and canker .
Black Willow Tree Uses
The Grant Wood of the black willow is prone to breakage , especially when matter down by chicken feed and snow , which is why it is not the best option for residential landscape . However , the timber from the species can be used to fashion cabinets and other furniture .
When institute a black willow tree , it is also important to be aware that these trees have a shallow root system that can clog up drains and sewerage . Because of their shallow tooth root , however , fatal willow tree trees can be helpful when it come to erosion controller .
frail wood that break easily and shallow , potentially invasive roots are two downside of growing black willow Tree .
It is also deserving notice that the leaves of this tree often make litter , which is why the tree is considered mussy and is not recommended for home gardens .
