What season do willow branches belong to? A detailed explanation of the growing season of willow branches

Willow branches sprout from February to March, and their fruit ripens from April to May, when willow catkins drift all through the air; by autumn the leaves wither and the willow branches dry up. The willow's growing period is relatively long, and to keep its branches growing, it needs to sprout in order to spread its leaves, which then makes the branches grow longer.

Willows have been cultivated in China for more than 4000 years, and this can be traced back to the ancient Shu king Yu Fu, who planted trees to mark boundaries. King Yu Fu used the willow, which was the most widely planted, easy to grow, easy to recognize, attractive and uniquely styled tree on the land of the ancient Yu Fu capital (present-day Wenjiang District, Chengdu), as the boundary of the ancient city of Yu Fu. The ancient Shu people began to plant willows widely; at the start of spring, all the trees put forth green, the willow branches swayed, and countless willows welcomed the spring; in the Wenjiang city area it is also called Willow City.

It is a large deciduous tree, also known as yangliu. A deciduous tree or shrub of the genus Salix in the family Salicaceae, with green leaves, slender willow branches, soft and drooping, and a nature that loves damp sites; the bark tissue is thick, with vertical fissures, and the trunk of old trees is mostly decayed and hollow at the center. The fruit is a capsule, which splits into 2 valves when mature and contains many seeds; the seeds bear a tuft of cottony hairs (what we usually call willow catkins). Willows are cold-resistant, waterlogging-resistant, drought-resistant, and prefer warmth to high temperatures.

There are more than 520 species in the world, and more than 250 species in China, found throughout the country. Willows are easy to propagate, simple to cultivate, and highly vital; they can beautify the environment and are also useful in daily life, environmental protection, medicine and other areas, and are a greening tree species for “four-side” planting. In cultural terms, because willow (liu) and “stay” (liu) are homophones, the ancients often gave willows to friends to express their reluctant feelings of parting. Willows have always been loved by literati, and people have left behind a large number of fine poems, lyrics and essays.

Willow branches are graceful and soft, and when many willow trees are planted together they are very beautiful; if combined with a river view or lake view, the scene is simply breathtaking. But when willow catkins are drifting, be careful about allergies.