Salix alba
treeWhite willow (Salix alba) is a large, fast-growing waterside tree, 50 to 70 ft tall, with slender drooping branches and narrow leaves that are green above and silky silver-white beneath, giving the whole canopy a shimmering pale cast in the wind. Native to Europe and naturalized widely, it is the classic willow of riverbanks and damp meadows, and the famous historical source of salicin - the bark compound that inspired aspirin. It is grown for its bark, harvested from young branches in spring, and as a quick screen or bank-stabilizer in wet ground. It roots almost too easily and demands constant moisture, so it is a tree for the low, damp spot.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 5 days
Harvest
~30 days
Difficulty
easy
Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
Spacing
30-40 ft apart
Planting Depth
Set root flare at soil line; or root cuttings
Soil pH
5.5-8.0
Soil Type
Moist to wet; tolerates flooding
Hardiness Zones
Zones 2 – 9
When to Fertilize
Rarely needed in good moist soil
Fertilizer
Compost; low needs
White willow wants full sun and moist to wet soil - a streambank, pond edge, ditch, or any low ground that never bakes dry, as it is intolerant of drought. It grows extremely fast and roots from cuttings stuck straight in damp ground, so propagation is trivial. Keep it well away from drains, septic fields, and foundations, since the shallow, aggressive roots seek water and can lift paving. It tolerates flooding and a wide pH range. Pollard or coppice it every few years to keep a supply of young bark-bearing wands and to limit its ultimate size; it resprouts vigorously.
Direct sow
Apr 29
Projected first harvest
May 29
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Larvae chew the leaves; healthy, fast-growing trees outgrow the damage, or pick off small colonies
Often heavy but rarely harmful; they feed birds and beneficial insects, and a hose rinse knocks them back
Causes leaf spotting and twig dieback in wet springs; rake up fallen leaves and thin for airflow
Harvest the bark from young branches and twigs (about 2 to 3 years old) in spring, when the rising sap makes the bark slip easily from the wood. Cut suitable wands during coppicing, peel the thin bark in strips, and dry it thoroughly in a shaded, airy place; it is the inner bark that is used. Spring-harvested bark from young growth is preferred. Taking bark from young coppiced wands, rather than ringing a trunk, keeps the tree healthy.
White willow is not a food plant - it is grown for its bark, dried and brewed as a traditional bitter tea, and is best known historically as the plant from which salicin, the forerunner of aspirin, was first drawn. In the garden it is a fast shade and screening tree for wet ground, a quick source of basketry and bark-bearing wands when coppiced, and a strong stabilizer of soft, eroding banks.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.