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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
Is 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

Discover the magic of plants that shed all their leaves during a particular season, often putting on a spectacular show of fall colors first. They get ready for a fresh start!

Shade Tolerant

Discover plants that love to live in the shadows, growing beautifully and happily even in spots where the sun doesn't shine all day long.

Broadleaf Tree

Discover magnificent trees that have wide, flat leaves, unlike the needles of pine trees! These are often the trees that change colors beautifully in autumn.

Rapid Growing

Watch these energetic plants grow super fast, quickly transforming spaces and adding lush greenery in a blink of an eye!

Wetland

These fascinating areas are covered by water for at least part of the year, creating a perfect home for unique plants and animals, like marshes and swamps.