White Willow (Salix alba)
Impressive medium-sized deciduous tree with highly arched, wide round crown. Pleasantly scented yellow catkins appear with the leaves in spring. The White Willow mainly grows along river banks and in alluvial plains.
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Appearance
Impressive medium-sized deciduous tree with highly arched, wide round crown. Pleasantly scented yellow catkins appear with the leaves in spring. The White Willow mainly grows along river banks and in alluvial plains.
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Leaves
Lance-like, 6-12cm long, 1.5-2.5cm wide, leaf stem 0.5-1.5cm long. Serrated edge. Leaves are green above, pale blue-green below, turn yellow-green in autumn.
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Leaf upperside
Lance-like, 6-12cm long, 1.5-2.5cm wide, leaf stem 0.5-1.5cm long. Serrated edge. Leaves are green above, pale blue-green below, turn yellow-green in autumn.
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Leaf underside
Lance-like, 6-12cm long, 1.5-2.5cm wide, leaf stem 0.5-1.5cm long. Serrated edge. Leaves are green above, pale blue-green below, turn yellow-green in autumn.
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Flowers
Flowering period IV-V, yellow catkins up to 7cm long appear with the leaves.
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Fruits
2-lobed capsule with numerous seeds. Seeds with silky hair.
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Bark
Grey-brown bark with shallow furrows or regular chambers. Branches are yellow or yellowish-green.
Application
Open fields, pioneer tree, tip afforestation, stabilization of shores and hillsides, biological engineering, soil improvement, wind-break, forage for honey-bees, parks, urban areas, roadside verges, topiary
Native regions
Europe, Western Asia, Northern Asia, Siberia
Location parameters
Light: full sun to semi-shady, temperature: warm to cool, soil: dry to moist, stagnant moisture: to be avoided, soil structure: heavy to normal, soil depth: shallow to deep, compaction: to be avoided, soil quality: medium to high, pH value
Demands
Sun; heat-tolerant, frost-hardy; fresh to wet, tolerates flooding, on all nutrient-rich alkaline substrates, including clay soils; tolerates urban climates, wind-resistant, moderately tolerant of salt
Growth
Height of growth: 6m to 25m, spread:10m to 15m, rapid growth potential, growth habits: wide, loose, spreading
Leaves
Lance-like, 6-12cm long, 1.5-2.5cm wide, leaf stem 0.5-1.5cm long. Serrated edge. Leaves are green above, pale blue-green below, turn yellow-green in autumn.
Flowers
Flowering period IV-V, yellow catkins up to 7cm long appear with the leaves.
Fruits
2-lobed capsule with numerous seeds. Seeds with silky hair.
Bark
Grey-brown bark with shallow furrows or regular chambers. Branches are yellow or yellowish-green.
Roots
Surface-rooting, fine root system, expansive root system