Black Willow

Quadrella cynophallophora (L.) Hutch.

The Black Willow has long, slender leaves and is often found near water. It’s a great tree for making shady spots!

Habitat: Wetlands and near rivers

Appearance

The Black Willow has shaggy, deeply furrowed, dark brown to black bark, giving it its name. Its narrow, lance-shaped leaves are bright green above and paler below, often having finely toothed edges. It often grows with multiple trunks, creating a broad, irregular crown.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCapparalesFamilyCapparaceaeGenusQuadrella

Black Willow

Interesting facts

Beavers absolutely love to munch on Black Willow bark and use its branches for their homes.

Its bark naturally contains a chemical similar to aspirin, used for centuries as medicine.

Its wood is so lightweight, it was once used to make artificial limbs and crates!

This tree is North America's largest native willow, towering over other willows!

Special abilities

Black Willow can stabilize riverbanks with its extensive, fibrous root system that holds soil firmly, preventing erosion during floods.

Black Willow has a super-fast growth rate that allows it to quickly colonize disturbed areas, especially along waterways.

Black Willow can sprout new trees from broken branches that fall into moist soil, a handy trick to spread rapidly.

Measurements & details

Height: 10-30 m
Canopy Spread: 10-15 m
Edible: Yes
Trunk Diameter: 50-150 cm
Lifespan: 65-100 years
Fruit Type: Capsule
Growth Rate: Fast
Leaf Type: Deciduous

Ecological connections

eats

American Beaver

Castor canadensis

eats bark and uses branches for dams.

eats

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

browses young twigs and foliage.

eats

Cottonwood Borer

Plectrodera scalator

larvae tunnel into the tree's wood.

eats

Willow Aphid

Aphis saliceti

sucks sap from leaves and young shoots.

Traits

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Shade Tolerant

Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.

Broadleaf Tree

Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.

Rapid Growing

Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.