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Salix alba

white willow

Salicaceae

Europe, western Asia, and North Africa

Attracts Pollinators

SunFull Sun

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 2–8

Overview

Salix alba is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree in the family Salicaceae, reaching 50-100 feet (15-30 m) tall with an upright trunk and a fairly open, spreading crown. The narrow, lance-shaped leaves are 2-4.5 inches (5-11 cm) long with finely toothed edges, green above and covered beneath with silky white hairs that give the whole canopy a silvery, shimmering look in wind. The bark is grey-brown and deeply ridged with age, and the slender twigs are flexible and olive to reddish. It is dioecious, the yellowish male and greenish female catkins 1.2-2.4 inches (3-6 cm) long appearing on separate trees in April and May with the new leaves. The species is native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, growing along rivers, streams, lakesides, wet meadows, and floodplains on moist to wet, fertile soils. It is fast-growing and tolerant of flooding but short-lived and brittle, dropping limbs in storms, and its wide, spreading roots can lift paving and invade drains, so it needs space well away from buildings.

Native Range

Native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, and widely planted and naturalised elsewhere. It grows beside rivers, streams, canals, lakes, and in wet meadows and floodplains, on moist to wet, fertile, neutral to alkaline soils.

Suggested Uses

Planted along rivers and lakes, in wet meadows, and in flood-prone ground for fast cover, bank stabilisation, and shelter, and grown as pollards for poles, basketry, and biomass. The bark is a traditional source of salicin, and the catkins feed early bees. Its size and brittle limbs suit large, open, damp sites well away from buildings rather than small gardens.

How to Identify

A tall riverside tree whose narrow, lance-shaped leaves are clothed beneath in silky white hairs, so the moving canopy looks silvery from a distance. The flexible olive to red twigs and deeply ridged grey bark are typical of the species. It is distinguished from crack willow Salix fragilis, whose leaves are greener and nearly hairless beneath and whose twigs snap cleanly at the joints.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height50' - 100'

Width/Spread30' - 50'

Reaches mature size in approximately 25 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring

Catkins open in April and May as the leaves expand, with male and female catkins on separate trees. Male catkins are yellow with pollen and rich in nectar, drawing bees and other early insects, while female catkins are green. The fertilised female catkins shed many tiny seeds on white down in early summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

yellow to green

Foliage Description

green above, silvery beneath

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

clay loam silt

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

20-30 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Salix alba grows in full sun on moist to wet, fertile soils and tolerates seasonal flooding, riverbank conditions, and heavy clay. It grows very fast, often more than 3 feet (1 m) a year when young, and roots readily from large hardwood cuttings or set stakes, needing no special care once established on damp ground. It tolerates hard pollarding and coppicing, regrowing strongly, and is traditionally pollarded for poles and to renew the silvery young growth. Its drawbacks are brittle, weak wood that sheds branches, a short lifespan compared with oaks or beeches, and wide, moisture-seeking roots that can damage drains, paving, and foundations. It is affected by willow anthracnose, rusts, sawflies, and watermark disease. On dry soils it grows poorly and ages quickly.

Pruning

It tolerates hard pollarding and coppicing and is traditionally pollarded on a cycle for poles and basketry rods, regrowing strongly from the cut head. Formative pruning in winter removes weak forks and crossing branches to reduce later limb drop. Mature trees are cut back periodically to keep brittle, top-heavy crowns in check.