The types of willow trees range in size from low-ground-hugging shrubs to towering giants of 90 feet or more.
Warning
Most willow species are moisture-loving plants that will seek out underground pipes carrying water.
Willow roots canpenetrate a water main or sewer lineand cost thousands of dollars in repair and replacement costs.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Here are water-loving willow trees and shrubs to consider.
The branches sway in the breeze, though stronger winds might break off some stems and litter the ground.
Goat Willow
Goat willow (Salix caprea) is also sometimes called pussy willow.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Goat willow is often grown for the attractive puffy catkins.
It is kept closely pruned and sometimes used forhedgesand screens or as a filler plant in boggy areas.
Other common names for this plant include great sallow, European pussy willow, and French pussy willow.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
In landscapes, it sometimes appears in hedges andrain gardens.
Unlike goat willow, which has thicket-like multiple stems growing from the ground,S.
discolorcan be shaped into a small tree or a shrub with a central stem.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The wood of the Bebb willow is often used in carving, woodworking, and securing river banks.
Once established, this species is relativelydrought-tolerant.
Other common names for this plant include beaked willow, gray willow, diamond willow, or long-beaked willow.
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It is a true tree rather than a multi-stemmed shrubby plant.
The corkscrew willow is also used as an accent in floral arrangements and as a bonsai.
Other common names for this plant include curly willow, globe willow, Pekin willow, and twisted willow.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The pink comes first, then fades to green and white as the season progresses.
The branches turn an attractive red in the winter.
It works well in shrub borders or rain gardens growing from multiple stems.
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It is also closely related toSalix integra ‘Flamingo’, another bang out of Japanese willow.
Since cuttings do not root easily, propagation is done by seeds.
It is a fairly large tree that grows quickly but does not live long.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
It can be used to fill bare areas quickly and tocontrol erosion.
In natural controls, it can often be found growing alongside cottonwood trees.
Other common names for this plant include almond willow and Wright willow.
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It can handle some shade and dry soil.
It helps control erosion along streams and lakes and can be planted as a hedge.
The attractive flowers and stems can be used in crafts.
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One popular variety,Salix alba’Tristis', is sold as a golden weeping willow.
The stems are often used in basket weaving.
This diamond willow is popular for carving.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
It is sometimes planted as a hedge to control erosion along a body of water.
However, be careful sincethis plant can grow invasivelyand overtake other plants, often appearing in mixed forests.
Scouler’s willow is an important source of browsing vegetation for deer, elk, and other wildlife.
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Other common names for this plant include fire willow, black willow, and western pussy willow.
It is a favorite food of moose, elk, sheep, and beavers.
It reproduces easily both throughcuttingsand seeds.
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Plants profile for Salix exigua (narrowleaf willow).
United States Department of Agriculture.
Salix purpurea ‘Nana’.
Birch Top, Cedar and Willow: Careful Harvest Fact Sheet.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
