# 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! - **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** Wetlands and near rivers - **Also known as:** Black Willow Tree, Salix nigra ![Black Willow](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425736/objects/4886.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Capparales - **Family:** Capparaceae - **Genus:** Quadrella ## 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 - **Riverbank Anchor:** Black Willow can stabilize riverbanks with its extensive, fibrous root system that holds soil firmly, preventing erosion during floods. - **Rapid Reclaimer:** Black Willow has a super-fast growth rate that allows it to quickly colonize disturbed areas, especially along waterways. - **Sprouting Spreader:** 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 - **Spread:** 10-15 m - **Edible:** Yes - **Size:** 50-150 cm - **Lifespan:** 65-100 years - **Fruit Type:** Capsule - **Growth Rate:** Fast - **Leaf Type:** Deciduous ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [American Beaver](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-beaver) (*Castor canadensis*) — eats bark and uses branches for dams. - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. ## Collections - [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black Willow? Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Black Willow? 10-30 m ### How wide does Black Willow spread? 10-15 m ### Is Black Willow edible? Yes ### How big is Black Willow? 50-150 cm ### How long does Black Willow live? 65-100 years ### Where is Black Willow usually found? Wetlands and near rivers ### What kind of fruit does Black Willow produce? Capsule ## Where to spot - [Abbott Farm Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abbott-farm-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Chenango Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chenango-canal) — New York, US · Historic Site - [Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chihuahuan-desert-nature-center-and-botanical-gardens) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Cleveland Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cleveland-park) — District of Columbia, US · Neighborhood - [Ridgewood Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ridgewood-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Cairo Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cairo-historic-district) — Illinois, US · Historic District [View all places to see Black Willow](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/black-willow) ## More Trees - [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) - [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*) - [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) - [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) --- Source: [Black Willow: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-willow)