When Do Willow Trees Sprout? A Detailed Explanation of Sprouting Time

Willow is the general name for a group of plants in the genus Salix of the family Salicaceae. Its name comes from the pollarding method used on willows. It is mainly distributed in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and is suited to a variety of different ecological environments. It grows in high mountains, plains, sand dunes and polar regions alike, and has a cultivation history of more than 4,000 years in China. Let us take a look below at when willow trees sprout!

When do willow trees sprout?

Willow trees generally sprout in spring, flowering at the same time or flowering before the leaves emerge. They have no terminal buds, and the lateral buds usually lie close against the branches, with a single bud scale. The leaves are alternate, rarely opposite, usually narrow and long, mostly lanceolate, with pinnate veins, and are serrate or entire. The Tang dynasty poet He Zhizhang wrote, "The jade-green willow adorns a tree so tall, ten thousand branches hang down like green silk threads. Who cut out these slender leaves so fine? The spring breeze of February is like scissors" - this describes the willow sprouting.

When do willow trees bloom?

The flowering period of willow trees is generally from March to April on the Gregorian calendar, or the 2nd to 3rd lunar month. The flowers are generally white (some are red). The catkins are upright or spreading, opening before the leaves or at the same time as the leaves, rarely after the leaves. The bracts are entire, hairy or hairless, persistent, rarely falling early. The male catkins are 2 to 4 cm long, and the female catkins are about 2 cm long.

When do willow trees bear fruit?

Willow seeds generally mature from April to May and bear white fuzz on top. Because they scatter in the wind like drifting fluff, they are called willow catkins. Bai Juyi wrote, "In the third month all is white-haired daylight, parting from spring in old age is even more lingering. Ask the oriole to tell the poplar flowers, hold back the spring breeze and do not let it return" - this describes willow catkins. Su Shi's "Pear blossoms pale white, willows deep green; when willow catkins fly, flowers fill the city" also describes willow catkins.