Deciduous, multi-stemmed tree
Native to Europe and western/central Asia
Mature height of 50-70 feet
Intolerant of shade and drought, does well in moist, acidic soils with any texture.
Highly fire resistant
Both roots and canopy spread out very wide
Suceptible to several diseases including willow anthracnose and waterbark disease.
Sentimental and Symbolic Value
Willow trees are a common motif in Christian, Celtic pagan, and Native American traditions, which all associate the tree with misery and mourning. Christian symbolism also associates the tree with hope for a brighter future, as seen in passages such as Psalm 137 and Ezekiel 17.
The willow figures prominently in Shakesperean tragedies such as Othello and has thus permeated deep into the culture of Anglophone nations.
A common tree all across Europe, it was brought over by Europeans to serve as an ornamental.
Specimen photographed found in the Back Bay Fens in Boston, Massachusetts. Part of the Woodland Plants assignment (10/6/2021).
Plant History and Etymology
Salix is the Latin word for "willow", and alba is Latin for "white". White willow bark has been used as a remedy to treat aches, pains, and fevers since at least the fifth century BC, usually extracted into a liquid called a tincture. A bark extract called salicin was used in the 19th and 20th centuries as a precursor to aspirin, and is still used today as an acne medicine. Besides that, it has minimal practical use and is mainly an ornamental plant valued for its large canopy and attractive leaves and trunk.
Design Considerations
The white willow has a very erratic form, with its branches growing outward and weeping down at the ends to cover a very large area. The weeping is not nearly as dramatic as its more popular hybrid offspring, the weeping willow (Salix x sepulcralis). It does not have much benefit to wildlife, as its fruits are small and hard. It makes a great wetland ornamental plant, and is commonly found growing right on the water's edge.
Sources
“USDA Plants Database.” 2021. Usda.gov. 2021. https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=SAAL2.
“Salix Alba (White Willow): Go Botany.” 2018. Nativeplanttrust.org. 2018. https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/salix/alba/.
Wikipedia Contributors. 2021. “Salix Alba.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. May 11, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salix_alba.
“#10 Willow Tree : Symbolism and Meaning.” 2021. Treesymbolism.com. June 25, 2021. https://treesymbolism.com/willow-tree-symbolism-meaning.html.