When I think of a weeping willow tree, I conjure images of a large tree with gracefully swaying branches growing at the edge of a scenic lake or pond. The branches flow downwards like a cascading waterfall, nearly touching the water’s surface below. The willow tree stands alone and majestic, reflected in the still water, its leaves either at their vibrant green peak or perhaps golden yellow with showy autumn hues.
Weeping willow trees have been used for centuries as a highlight in ornamental landscapes. Growing one at the water’s edge makes sense since these trees are thirsty and crave moist soil and plenty of sunlight. However, you won’t be able to—or even want to —grow this species just anywhere. If you hope to incorporate a weeping willow into your yard, take into account their specific needs and requirements to determine if this tree is right for you.
There are approximately 350 species of willow trees and shrubs (genus Salix) within the willow family (Salicaceae), along with dozens of related hybrids and cultivars. Various species are native to Asia, Europe, Africa, and North and South America. The weeping willow originated in Asia and is now a widespread horticultural favorite.
If you’re hoping to make a bold statement along the edge of your lake, pond, wetland, or rain garden, let’s take a closer look at the benefits and challenges of growing a weeping willow, and how to help your tree thrive and look its best.
Weeping Willow Overview
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Plant Natural History
Weeping willow trees originated in China. People noticed and appreciated their natural beauty and started to cultivate them. They quickly spread to other Asian countries, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Many species have naturalized in many states and can be found growing in riparian areas in the southeastern United States and also in California.
These are fast-growing trees that reach 60 to 80 feet tall in optimal conditions. For a tree, they have a relatively short lifespan, living anywhere from 50 to 75 years. They have relatively weak wood that’s susceptible to breakage, particularly under the strains of snow, ice, or heavy storms.
These trees are still important and valuable wetland trees in their natural habitat, providing shade, shelter, and foraging opportunities for a variety of birds, insects, mammals, and other animals.
Characteristics
The weeping willow is a deciduous tree with great ornamental value. They develop a distinct form. The broad trunk develops several low-growing horizontal branches with uniquely weeping elongated leaf-lined stems. The rough, light gray bark is thick and heavily ridged.
Each of the long, thin, weeping branches is lined with alternate leaves. The simple, lanceolate leaves are between three and six inches long and less than one inch wide. During the growing season, the leaves stay uniformly green and then become golden yellow in the autumn for some showy fall color.
The trees blooms in early to mid-spring. These plants are dioecious with male and female flowers on separate trees. The flowers are called catkins. Catkins are elongated, pale greenish-yellow, and not especially showy, although they do attract some pollinators. Each catkin measures one to two inches long. After flowering, tiny seed capsules develop, full of fluffy, white, cottony seeds.
These trees have long been cultivated and now include many unique varieties, including dwarf stature, golden yellow leaves, and corkscrew-shaped branches. Weeping willows generally have a rounded form, although the cultivars and other Salix species may be more spreading or vase-shaped.
Propagation
Weeping willow is surprisingly easy to propagate by cuttings. You could take a cutting at any time of year, but late winter is ideal for a very high chance of success. Select a healthy branch between one and two inches across and no more than six feet long. Cut the branch with a sharp pruning tool large enough to handle a branch cutting.
Decide where you want to plant the cutting so it can grow into a large new tree. Prepare the site by removing competing vegetation and loosening the soil. Prepare a hole approximately eight to 10 inches deep and place the cutting in the hole. Push the soil against the cutting so the ground around the cutting holds it securely in place.
Water the area well and keep it moist until the cutting begins to develop fresh new leaves. This will be the first indication that your cutting is a success. Keep the weeds away as your new tree begins to grow. These are fast-growing trees, and your cutting will soon begin to grow vigorously. Within a few years, it will transform from a branch cutting into an elegant young tree.
Transplanting
If you rooted a cutting in a pot or bought a young sapling from a nursery, you’ll need to transplant it into a permanent location. First, identify an ideal location for your tree. Place it at a safe distance from your home or other structures, and keep it far away from underground utility lines. Make sure your location has plenty of both sun and moisture so your tree will be very happy there.
Prepare the soil by digging a hole slightly deeper and wider than the current container. Remove the tree from its pot and carefully spread out the roots if they are clumped and tangled in the pot. Transfer the tree into the hole and refill around it with soil. Tamp down the soil as you go so make sure the tree is securely anchored in the new location. Water your tree well to help it settle in. The best time to transplant is in early spring before new growth develops, or late fall after the leaves drop.
It’s important to ensure you plant this species well away from your home’s foundation. Weeping willows have a tendency to cause structural and plumbing issues when planted close to residences.
How to Grow
If you can provide favorable conditions with plenty of sunlight, moist soil, and a mild climate, you’ll find a weeping willow easy to grow. While they’ll grow well without much help, they require some regular maintenance and cleanup to keep them looking their best.
Sunlight
Willows perform best in full sun or light shade. Ideally, aim for at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. They tolerate partial shade, although you’ll find a shade-grown specimen may want to lean towards an area with greater sunlight.
Water
Weeping willows are thirsty plants. They grow best with constant soil moisture and are not drought-tolerant. It’s best to plant this species near a water source so the roots have access to enough moisture. Unlike many other trees, they tolerate periodic flooding.
Soil
Salix species aren’t particular about soil pH and will perform well in acidic, neutral, or alkaline soils. They are also not picky about soil quality, as long as the soil stays moist.
Climate and Temperature
Weeping willow trees are hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 6-8. They tolerate freezing temperatures and hot, humid summers. You can even grow one in an arid climate in a naturally wet oasis.
Fertilizing
You shouldn’t need to fertilize these plants. They will be okay growing in natural soil conditions.
Maintenance
These are medium-maintenance trees. You won’t need to do much with the tree itself, but rather the regular cleanup around your tree. Willows are messy and drop flowers, seeds, branches, twigs, and leaves throughout the year. You can expect to clean up fallen branches and twigs after heavy wind, rain, or snow. Sometimes, they drop branches and twigs for no apparent reason, so be prepared to keep the area under your tree clear of fallen debris.
Pruning is an important part of care as well. In late winter, prune your tree to remove any dead and decaying branches. This prevents them from falling and causing injuries. Prune for shape too.
Garden Design
It can be a bit of a challenge to use a weeping willow tree in most landscapes. They are broad, messy, and have persistent moisture-seeking roots. The roots have been known to seek moisture in cracks and crevices and also to infiltrate water and sewer lines. Do not plant this species near your house or near utility lines where the roots might interfere.
The ideal location is along a wetland edge. Do you have a lake, pond, or stream at the edge of your property? A weeping willow would look idyllic in this setting, providing a patch of shade and graceful beauty at the edge of the water.
You probably won’t be able to grow anything under a weeping willow because they create so much shade and the roots will outcompete most other plants growing under them. You could grow some other moisture-loving plants in the nearby vicinity, however. Try some other plants that love wet soil to fill in nearby available space around the outside edge.
If you’re a fan of miniature gardening, try growing this species as a bonsai tree. It will take a bit of work to encourage these naturally robust and vigorous trees to develop an appealing miniature form but it can certainly be done. In general, these trees aren’t a great option for containers and raised beds because they will want to grow large and require a lot of water.
Varieties
There are many unique Salix species and cultivars to choose from.
Golden Weeping Willow, Salix alba ‘Tristis’
The golden weeping willow is a notable cultivar with yellow twigs. During the growing season, you might mistake this tree for the parent species, but in the winter, you’ll notice something quite different. After the leaves fall off in the autumn, you can see the distinctly yellow twigs. This tree makes an excellent addition to the winter landscape.
Corkscrew Willow, Salix babylonica var. tortuosa
Corkscrew or curly willow is a unique variety grown for its twisted branches. This is a medium-sized upright tree that doesn’t “weep” but still maintains long thin branches and sway in the breeze. When the leaves have dropped for the winter, it’s clear how this tree got its name.
The bare branches appear twisted, gnarled, or curled like a corkscrew, and even the leaves are curled or wavy. This species is more tolerant of dry soils than the weeping willow.
‘Scarlet Curls,’ Salix babylonica ‘Scarlet Curls’
‘Scarlet Curls’ is an ornamental cultivar that’s similar to the corkscrew variety. It also has curly and twisted leaves and branches. Young wood emerges a scarlet red color and matures to golden yellow. The colorful branches add visual appeal to your landscape and can also be used in dried flower arrangements and nature crafts.
Ram’s Horn Willow, Salix babylonica ‘Crispa’
The ram’s horn willow will probably make you look twice when you first see it! This unusual cultivar has tightly curled leaves that resemble a ram’s horn. This cultivar grows up to 30 feet tall with long, pendulous branches, each tightly packed with extremely curly leaves.
Wildlife Value
Many species of wildlife use willow trees for feeding and nesting. This species is a larval host plant for viceroy butterflies. Many different butterflies, bees, and other pollinators visit the flowers in the springtime. Birds use the canopy for foraging and roosting.
Other animals seek shelter under the large branches. If your tree is growing at the edge of a wetland, it will attract aquatic insects and provide a shady refuge at the water’s edge.
Common Problems
These trees are susceptible to several pests and diseases. The best way to combat pests and diseases is to keep your trees healthy. A healthy tree growing in an ideal habitat is better able to resist challenges than a tree that’s weak or stressed because it is trying to grow in unfavorable conditions.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a widespread fungal disease that affects many plant species. If you live in a humid environment, you have probably already encountered powdery mildew in your garden. Powdery mildew appears as a dusty or powdery-looking coating on the leaves, stems, and flowers. This coating initially appears white or gray and as it progresses, causes the leaves to turn yellow, wither, and eventually die.
Minor infestations of powdery mildew won’t harm the health of your tree although severe infestations can cause premature leaf drop. Rake up and remove infected leaves to help prevent re-infection of your willow and any nearby plants.
Canker
Black canker is a common fungal infection that affects various willow species. It’s most prevalent on drought-stressed trees with lower resistance. Keep your willows well watered to keep them healthy and help them fight off pests and diseases.
Black canker causes black and brown dead spots to appear on the leaves and stems. Eventually, entire leaves, stems, and branches die off, turning brown and black as they dry and shrivel. Prune off and discard severely infected branches to reduce the chances that they will spread to nearby healthy branches.
Webworms
These common caterpillars build large, silky nurseries on many tree species, and they seem to be particularly fond of willows. These pests are a nuisance and kill a small number of leaves, but they rarely cause severe damage or death to the tree.
If you see a nest of caterpillars enclosed in a silky white tent at the end of a branch, this is the fall webworm. If you wish, you can prune off the tip of the affected branches and dispose of the nests. Remove them early before the caterpillars spread to nearby branches.
Aphids
Aphids are ubiquitous garden pests. These soft-bodied insects feed on a multitude of garden plants and seem especially fond of willows. Fortunately, an infestation of aphids is unlikely to visibly harm your tree, but aphids can create other issues. As they feed, they leave behind a sticky substance that attracts fungal diseases.
The giant willow aphid is a gray aphid species that grows up to ¼ inch long and feeds almost exclusively on willow trees. It’s very difficult to control insect pests on large trees. Create a garden environment that attracts beneficial insects and invite ladybugs to your yard to help control these pests.
Mites, beetles, scale, borers, and lace bugs may also be present on your tree, but it’s unlikely they’ll be a serious issue. Especially if your tree is healthy, and receives proper care, you shouldn’t have to worry much about them. Beneficial insects, birds, and other predators will assist you in controlling them.
Key Takeaways
- Weeping willow trees give your landscape a certain exotic character with their dramatically weeping twigs. If you have the space and the setting for one of these picturesque trees, it’s sure to charm.
- These water-loving trees are especially fitting for a wet spot in your yard, such as a rain garden or water’s edge.
- Give these fast-growing trees plenty of space to allow their roots to sprawl without getting in the way of structures, sidewalks, or underground utility lines.
