Cultural Requirements

• Willow trees are marginal in nature and thrive in very moist or wet soil that has good air circulation. The trees are moderately tolerant of brief periods of flooding, in which the root system is submerged entirely in water. Willows are intolerant of shade, growing best in areas of full sun.
  
  

Description

• The foliage of willow trees is characteristically lance-shaped, measuring about 6 inches long and ½-inch wide. The olive green leaves have silvery undersides. Willow trees produce catkins, and the flowers are pollinated by insects and wind. They have shallow root systems.
  
  

Varieties

• There are nearly 400 varieties of willow worldwide, as cited by Burton Verne Barnes and Warren Herbert Wagner in "Michigan Trees." Nearly 100 willow varieties are found in North America and 62 in Canada. Willow trees grow best in regions with cooler climates.