30-60' × 15-50' The largest native North American willow, this fast-growing medium-sized tree can be found along riverbanks, swamps, pond edges and other wetland ecosystems.
Yellow-green catkins dangle from bright shoots in early spring as the foliage emerges. Female trees produce clusters of reddish-brown capsules of seeds covered in cottony fluff that disperse in early summer. Long thin tapered shiny dark green leaves turn lemon yellow in the fall. Dark brown to blackish bark is highly fissured in older trees.
The extensive root system makes this a valuable tree for erosion control and riparian buffers, and its broad canopy can also provide much shade. Likes wet feet; not tolerant of drought. Native across much of North America. Zone 3.
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ships in spring