Salix spp. Overview Uses: Pond and stream edges, low or wet areas of the yard, large open lawns, fast shade, windbreak and screening edges. Benefits: Long cascading branches that move with the slightest breeze, rapid growth that fills a large space in only a few seasons, comfort in wet ground that defeats most shade trees, and bright green foliage that finishes the season in clear gold. USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–8 Sun: Full Sun, Partial Sun/Shade Life Cycle: Deciduous Tree Growth Habit: Weeping, Rounded — broad crown with branches that sweep toward the ground. Foliage Color: Green, maturing to Yellow in fall Mature Height: 30–40 feet Mature Width: 30–40 feet Growth Rate: Fast Summary Few trees say “slow down” quite like a willow leaning over the water. This is the tree most people picture when they imagine a pond edge or a wide, quiet lawn. A stout trunk carries a broad rounded crown, and from it hang long, thin branches that sweep almost to the ground and shift with every breeze. The effect is movement and softness at a scale most landscape plants can’t reach. Narrow, finely toothed leaves emerge early and hold a bright light green through the season before turning clear yellow in autumn. Because growth is genuinely fast, a young tree can begin to read as a landscape feature within just a few years rather than a few decades. This is a tree for open ground and moisture. It shrugs off soggy low spots, clay, and periodic standing water, which makes it a natural fit for pond banks, drainage swales, and the corner of the property that never quite dries out. Early catkins also give bees a source of pollen well before most trees leaf out. Care Weeping Willow Care Plant in full sun to partial shade in a site with room to spread. Full sun produces the fullest crown and the strongest weeping form. Willows are not fussy about soil type and grow well in clay, loam, or sand. What they do want is moisture. Consistently moist to wet ground is ideal, and periodic flooding is tolerated. Dry, sandy sites are the one condition to avoid. Water deeply and regularly through the first two growing seasons while roots establish. Once settled, a tree planted near a natural water source often needs little supplemental irrigation, while one in an average lawn benefits from a deep soak during extended dry spells. A layer of mulch helps hold moisture, kept a few inches back from the trunk. If desired, feed in early spring with a slow release fertilizer to support steady growth. Prune in late winter while the tree is dormant. Remove crossing, damaged, or crowded limbs and raise the canopy if you want to walk beneath it. Willow wood is soft and sheds small twigs, so plan for occasional cleanup. Give the tree distance from septic fields, water lines, and foundations, since the roots range widely in search of moisture. Size What Size is the Weeping Willow for Sale Online? Our Weeping Willow ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us. How Large Does Weeping Willow Grow? When mature, a Weeping Willow typically reaches about 30–40 feet tall with a comparable spread. Final size depends on moisture, soil, and the room the tree has to open up. Additional Information What are some common names for this plant? This plant is commonly known as Weeping Willow or Babylon Willow. Weeping willows offered for cold-climate planting are typically hardy hybrid selections within the genus Salix rather than a single species, which is why hardiness runs to zone 4. Where is the best place to plant a Weeping Willow? Give it open ground well away from the house, driveway, septic field, and water or sewer lines. Pond banks, stream edges, and large lawns are ideal, since the crown alone can reach 40 feet across. If you are weighing options for a large planting site, our Trees collection is a good place to compare mature sizes. Does a Weeping Willow have to be planted near water? No, but it does want steady moisture. A willow will grow in an average lawn as long as it gets deep watering during dry stretches. Planting it in a naturally damp low spot simply means less work for you and faster growth for the tree. How quickly does a Weeping Willow fill in? Growth is fast, often several feet of height per year on a young tree in moist soil. That speed makes willows useful along property edges where you want height and mass in a hurry; for narrower or evergreen options, compare our Privacy Trees & Shrubs collection. How long does a Weeping Willow live? Willows trade longevity for speed. Forty to seventy years is a typical lifespan, shorter than an oak or a maple. Late-winter pruning to remove weak or crossing limbs goes a long way toward keeping a tree sound as it ages.
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