Willow: When It Loses Its Leaves, Sprouts and Blooms by Month, and an Introduction to Common Varieties

Willow is a general term for a class of plants. This genus has about 520 or more species worldwide, mainly native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. China has 257 species, 122 varieties, and 33 forms. Willows generally begin to sprout in March in spring, blooming at the same time, and lose their leaves in December. When a willow sprouts, the caterpillar-like thing we see is its catkin. Common varieties include the weeping willow, dry land willow, crack willow, and white willow.

1. Weeping willow

Also known as water willow, willow, weeping silk willow, and weeping branch willow. Mainly distributed in Zhejiang, Hunan, Jiangsu, Anhui and other places. The branchlets are slender and drooping, light yellowish brown. The leaves are alternate, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 8-16cm long, with a gradually long-pointed tip, a wedge-shaped base, hairless or slightly hairy on young leaves, with fine serrations, and lanceolate stipules. The flowering period is March-April; the fruit ripening period is April-June.

The weeping willow has slender branches and grows rapidly, and has been deeply loved by the Chinese people since ancient times. It is best planted by water, such as at bridgeheads, beside ponds, and along rivers, lakes and other water systems. Interplanted with peach blossoms, it can form a scene of red peach and green willow, and is one of the characteristic planting methods of spring scenery in Jiangnan gardens. It can also be used as a shade tree, street tree, or highway tree. It is also suitable for factory greening, and is an important tree species for stabilizing embankments and protecting banks. The wood can be used to make furniture; the branches can be woven into baskets; the bark contains tannin and can be used to extract tannin extract. The leaves can be used as sheep feed.

2. Dry land willow

Also known as river willow, river willow, and straight willow. Distributed in North America, Europe, Russia, China, Canada, Colombia, and Japan. It can reach up to 20 meters tall, with a diameter at breast height of up to 80 cm. The large branches are slanting upward, and the crown is broad and rounded; the bark is dark gray-black with fissures; the branches are slender, upright or slanting, light brownish yellow or with green, later turning brown, hairless, with young branches hairy.

The dry land willow has soft branches and a full crown, and is a commonly used shade tree and street tree in northern China. It is often cultivated on the banks of rivers and lakes or planted alone on lawns, and planted in pairs on both sides of buildings. It is also used as a highway tree, shelterbelt, and for afforestation on sandy wasteland, and for “four-side” greening in rural areas, and is an early spring nectar source tree species. As a shelterbelt and greening tree species, it can also be used as a timber tree species.

3. Crack willow

The crack willow can reach up to 20 meters tall, with a diameter at breast height of up to 100 cm. The crown is round or oblong, the bark is dark black with grooves and cracks; the branchlets are light brownish green, relatively stout, hairless, glossy, and the sprouting branches are initially slightly pubescent. It has been introduced in Heilongjiang and Liaoning, and is commonly cultivated in Harbin. It is distributed in Europe and the Soviet Union. Its wood is soft and can be used for construction.

4. White willow

Also known as Su Gaiti (Uyghur name) and willow fluff. Distributed in Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai, Tibet and other places. It can reach up to 20 (25) meters tall, with a diameter at breast height of up to 1 meter. The crown is spreading; the bark is dark gray, with deep longitudinal fissures; young branches have silvery white down, old branches are hairless and light brown. The buds are appressed, 6 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, and acute. The leaves are lanceolate, linear-lanceolate, broadly lanceolate, oblanceolate, or obovate-lanceolate, 5-12 (15) cm long and 1-3 (3.5) cm wide, with a gradually pointed or long gradually pointed tip, a wedge-shaped base, both sides of young leaves with silvery white silky hairs, mature leaves often hairless on the upper side, slightly downy or nearly hairless on the lower side, with 12-15 pairs of lateral veins spreading at a 30-45 degree angle, and fine serrations on the margin; the petiole is 0.2-1 cm long, with white silky hairs; the stipules are lanceolate, with appressed hairs, glandular dots on the margin, and fall off early. Leaves. Buds and roots can be used as medicine, to clear heat and detoxify, and to dispel wind and dampness.