All About the Swamp Willow

The Swamp Willow

The Swamp Willow Tree is a medium-sized tree that grows in North America. The Swamp Willow is the largest of it's kind. It can grow 10-30 meters tall, with the highest being 45 meters tall when it is fully mature. The diameter of the trunk can grow to about 20-30 inches. The Swamp Willow is also commonly known as the Black Willow. These trees can be found on the middle and east side of the U.S. as well as Canada. The largest group of these trees can be found along the Mississippi River. This is an excellent tree to plant for land that is in need of stabilizing erosion.

The soil and growth

The Swamp Willow can grow in almost any soil type, although due to the nature of the roots it needs plenty of moisture and constantly in the growing season. They are most commonly found in swamps and on river margins. As well as any land that is known to be very full of water moisture in the soil. The average temperatures that it can grow best in, is between 59 and 93 degrees Fahrenheit. In the first year, the tree can grow 1.2 Inches Tall. In ten years the tree can grow to an average of 15 inches tall. In 20 years it can grow to an average of 22 inches tall. In 40 years it can grow up to 31 inches tall. The tallest at full maturity will reach up to 43 inches tall. It can take 55 years for full maturity. The tree has a lifespan of 70-85 years. As it is a week tree when it reaches full maturity the branches can break off much easier. Either with heavy winds or by lack of trimming. When planting your tree, it should be spaced 21x the stem diameter. Thinning your tree as it grows is also going to increase your yield amount. This allows it to grow taller and wider in diameter. Also, it allows the weight of the tree to not be overbearing.

Usefulness in landscaping

These trees are oftenused for the flexibility and lightness of their wood. It was once used for artificial limbs as it does not splinter easily. It is still used today for crates and boxes. In your landscape however it can do many beneficial things for your garden. The bark and the leaves have great healing power for Rheumatism. From the bark, salicylic acid is extracted and used for the basic ingredient for aspirin. The root of the tree is also powerful in healing patients with malaria and babesiosis. The tree is very useful in erosion protection as it flood resistant and herbivore resistant. If your soil in your garden has toxins in it, the Swamp Willow tree with suck it up and take it in, relieving your soil of the toxin. The toxins are then dissipated through the leaves of the tree. In season it one of the first trees that the honey bees go to for pollen.

Appearance

The Swamp Willow is dark brown to black in the bark, and it forks near the bottom of the bark. The shoots of the tree are very slender and vary from green, brown, yellow, or purple. The foliage buds are 2-4 millimeters long, with one pointed reddish-brown bud scale. The leaves can be 2-6 inches long with either a shiny or light green on one or both sides. It will grow greenish-yellow flowers in the spring as new leaves appear. The tiny fruit is a 5-millimeter capsule size that splits when mature and spills the seeds out.