Salix nigraIndiana Native
Black Willow

 Family:
 Genus:
 Plant Type:
 Growth Forms:
 Hardiness:
 Deciduous / Evergreen:
 Flower Notes:
Green (Not ornamentally important)
 Foliage Notes:
Green (Yellow to Yellow-green Fall foliage)
 Stem Notes:
Scaly stem buds. The twigs easily break off due to the line between new and old growth being brittle.
 Fruit Notes:
Brown/Red capsules that can hold many seeds that can be carried by the wind. On display during Spring and Summer.
 Ultimate Height:
30-60 feet
 Ultimate Spread:
20-35 feet
 Bloom Times:
 Light Requirements:
 Soil Water Requirements:
 Soil Notes:
Widely adapted to different soils, but prefers moist to wet soil
 Range:
Eastern half of the US and adjacent Canada
 Maintenance:
 Diagnostic Characteristics:
Leaves are simple, alternate, deciduous, narrow, lance-shaped, with tapered bases, rounded base, finely toothed margin, blade yellow-green on both sides, with a few small hairs on the lower surface; petiole slender. Flowers of black willow: male and female catkins on separate trees. Catkins are 4-5 cm long, on ends of leafy shoots, many small, yellow-green flowers without petals. Twigs are light-red, slender, and flexible. Buds narrow, conical, orange-brown; leaf scars narrow, crescent shaped; broad, flat, often shaggy ridges; pith pale brown, small. The bark is dark gray-brown to nearly blackish, divided into deep fissures separating thick, interlacing, sometimes scaly ridges. The Black Willow is multi-stemmed.
 Ecological Functions:
  Special Characteristics:
  • Bank Cover 47
  • Shade Tree 170
  • Fast Growth Rate 225
  • Indiana Native 152
  • Showy Flowers 2
  • Wet Soil Tolerant 102

    • Additional Information

    The Black Willow is a fast-growing, wet soils tolerant tree, reaching 30 to 60 feet at maturity. Can sucker profusely, so use sparingly in the landscape. In the wild, you can find Salix nigra near floodplains, streams and rivers, and marshes. The ancient Greeks knew the therapeutic values of willow (Salix) and brewed tea made from willow bark to relieve stiff joints and other bodily aches and pains. A number of insect species attack the black willow but few cause serious damage, such as, forest tent caterpillar, cotton wood leaf beetle, willow sawfly, stem borers, and twig borers.

    16 Salix nigra found

    Building Map...

    = Heritage plant = Memorial plant
    Number Accession ID Location
    12023_00150*AHORTPARK
    22023_00174*AHORTPARK
    32023_00174*BHORTPARK
    42023_00212*AHORTPARK
    52023_00212*BHORTPARK
    62023_00212*CHORTPARK
    72023_00212*DHORTPARK
    82023_00280*AHORTPARK
    92023_00280*BHORTPARK
    102023_00280*CHORTPARK
    112023_00280*DHORTPARK
    122023_00280*EHORTPARK
    132023_00280*FHORTPARK
    142023_00280*GHORTPARK
    152023_00280*HHORTPARK
    162020_12738*AHORTPARK

    Other plants like this Salix nigra (Black Willow)

    Communication

    University Resources

    Sustainability Resources

    Arboretum Resources

    Purdue University Logo Purdue University Logo

    The Purdue Arboretum is a collaboration between the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Physical Facilities Grounds Department

    Purdue Arboretum, 625 Agriculture Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN, 47907
    © 2025 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Integrity Statement | Copyright Complaints | Maintained by the Purdue Arboretum
    Contact Purdue Arboretum at arboretum@purdue.edu for accessibility issues with this page | Accessibility Resources | Contact Us