17 Different Willow Tree Varieties (With Pictures) 

Willow trees made by a variety of tree species are used as Christmas decorations and come in many shapes and colours. Here we will provide you with pictures, names, common uses, characteristics and facts about different varieties of willow tree

There are 17 different types of weeping willow trees. Some are deciduous and some are evergreen. There is a wide variety of colors, shapes, sizes and textures to choose from.

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Willows are deciduous trees of the Salix genus that thrive in damp environments. The Salix genus contains plants that are endemic to cold and temperate climates. Willow trees come in a broad range of shapes and sizes, with over 400 different trees and bushes to choose from.

These trees are beneficial for a multitude of reasons, including retaining soil and avoiding erosion, providing medicinal benefits, and beautifying your garden landscape. Unfortunately, the roots have some drawbacks to go along with their benefits. Willow roots, for example, may seek out sewage lines and create plumbing problems.

A willow tree, on the other hand, may transform a garden landscape if the right kind and location are selected. Take a peek at our top 17 willow tree species.

1. Willow Dappled

The vividly colored branches and elegant stems from which variegated foliage develops provide year-round appeal for this tiny tree or shrub. This tree, sometimes known as the tri-color dappled willow, creates a spectacular visual impact. This is due to the fact that its leaves change color from a gentle pink to white. In the winter, even the stems become a beautiful coral red color. 

When planting a dappled willow tree, take in mind that its roots might be invasive. As a result, it should be planted away from septic systems and patios by DIY gardeners. 

Beds and borders, as an informal hedge, privacy screen, and along streams and ponds are just a few areas where the dappled willow looks stunning when planted. 

This tree with arching branches, which earned the prize of garden merit, will be a visual feast for anybody who plants it. 

Bebb Willow is number two. 

One of the most prevalent willow tree kinds with multi-stemmed bushes is Bebb willow. It favors damp, rich soils and thrives around streams, lakes, and bogs. One of its most distinguishing features is its hairy, light grey-green leaves.

The Bebb willow’s wood is often utilized for furniture and riverbank protection. Planting a Bebb willow, on the other hand, will provide only short-term advantages because to its short lifespan and susceptibility to insect and disease damage. Nonetheless, the Bebb willow is drought resistant once established, making it an excellent choice for locations with limited rainfall. 

Bebb willow is also known by other names, such as diamond willow and long-beaked willow. However, this tree hybridizes with other willow species on occasion, making identification problematic. 

Willow, Peachleaf 

Peachleaf willows have pointed leaves that resemble those of a peach tree, as the name indicates. The long, thin form, as well as the greenish-yellow color on top, are reminiscent of peach tree leaves. This tree may be found in big gardens and parks across North America, as well as in streams, ponds, and low places in the Southern United States.

With a broad, oval canopy of green leaves that does not drop down like weeping willow, peachleaf willow offers us the appearance of the North American untamed grassland. The trunk is straight and erect at times, yet it splits into massive branches around the base at other times.

To top it off, its lush, green foliage may provide a soothing background for your garden, and it’s also a great choice for large plant groups.

4. Willow Coyote 

One of the most important willow tree species for sunny settings and stream stability is coyote willow. Due to its large root system, it may also be utilized to reduce surface erosion on stream bottoms. 

After the leaves emerge, this tree develops distinct male and female plants, which are followed by clusters of capsules containing little seeds that may be disseminated by air or water. 

When young, the coyote willow develops as a little bush, but as it matures, it becomes a very huge shrub with a round or oval form. Because of this, it blends nicely with other foliage, making it an excellent option for classic gardens. 

Golden Willow No. 5 

Golden willow is a beautiful, sturdy, low-branched tree that adds a warm, seductive appeal to any garden, giving it a summery vibe. It will reach a height of 75 feet or more and have a wide spread if planted in a vast open location.

The golden willow has long golden-yellow pendulous branches with magnificent green spring foliage, and dazzling yellow fall leaves. The weeping behavior of this tree is particularly lovely, and it adds to the elegance of a landscape.  

Furthermore, this thick deciduous tree merges easily into the environment with its rounded shape and ordinary texture. 

Brittle Willow, No. 6 

Brittle willow, often known as “crack willow,” has a high decorative value. The foliage in the largely spherical crown, which is thick and dense, reveals the elegance and contour of the branches. 

The texture is quite delicate.

The leaves are pointed and brilliant green, and they provide lots of shelter when the wind blows.

When fully grown, the tree may have a single large bole, or trunk, but some kinds split into massive twin trunks at the base.

You may form it as a single trunk tree early in its life to give it an aged and protecting appearance. Allowing it to grow several trunks, on the other hand, will make it seem more like a large shrub.

Brittle willow is a fast-growing willow tree that is popular with gardeners looking for a large green presence in a short amount of time.

7. Arctic Willow, Dwarf Blue Leaf 

Throughout the season, the dwarf blue leaf arctic willow displays bluish-green leaves and fine, whip-like branches. It grows in a rounded and uniform pattern, is extremely hardy, and reacts well to trimming (make sure you have the proper pruning shears for your garden). 

At the entrance door, these spherical, beautiful shrubs with turquoise and blue leaves would look lovely. It may also be utilized in topiaries and formal gardens, among other things. Plant this shrub in topiaries or formal gardens to make the most of its shape and color. 

It is simple to care for a dwarf blue leaf arctic willow since it is very resistant of urban pollutants and may survive even in urban areas. It likes full sunshine and damp to wet soil to thrive. We can’t think of a better solution for trouble-free growing in a chilly climate than this.

8. Pussy Willow (Japanese Pussy Willow) 

In the spring, the Japanese pussy willow produces attractive fuzzy seed pods, making it one of the most showy willow tree kinds. It also has a huge, spherical crown with bright green leaves and delicate, young limbs. 

These fuzzy pods, or catkins, are at their best when they start to expand in the middle to late winter, and they make a charming winter garden feature. The lush foliage, which has a silvery reverse, offers a magnificent background for other plants that are just beginning to bloom in the spring and summer, even after the blooming has ceased. 

This plant should be propagated from cuttings and adequately irrigated. Finally, keep an eye out for aphids, caterpillars, and leaf beetles, since it is susceptible to certain pests and illnesses. 

Willow with a Corkscrew 

The corkscrew willow, also known as the curly willow or tormented willow, is distinguished by its long, beautiful leaves and curly, twisted branches. The branch structure of this tree is most noticeable when it is barren in the winter. 

One of the most significant drawbacks of this tree is that it has a short lifespan and is particularly prone to breaking and insect infestations. However, cultivating a corkscrew willow tree is worthwhile, and with careful care, it may be maintained for many years. 

Because few trees have such aesthetic appeal in the winter, use this tree as a distinctive accent. The leaves becomes a gorgeous golden yellow color in the autumn, complimenting the color of your yard.

Scouler’s Willow is number ten. 

Scouler’s willow is a small shrub or tree that may grow up to 35 feet tall. It’s one of the tiniest willow tree kinds, with several fibrous and wide-spread stems that maintain the shrub vigorous for long periods of time. 

The shrub’s top surface is dark green, while the below surface is white and covered with rusty-colored hair. In general, the leaves are wide in the middle and taper abruptly towards the ends. It also produces catkins and small hairy fruits and has a rich dark bark.

Scouler’s willow is more tolerant to moderately dry circumstances than other willows. The wood of the willow is used for sculpture. It’s also utilized to avoid soil erosion and heavy water bodies, to name a few things.

Arctic Willow, No. 11 

With small clusters of beautifully formed glossy leaves, this charming but modest willow bush is great for rock gardens, where it will only grow a few inches among the stones and rise just a few inches above the ground.

Because it does not totally cover the ground, but rather breaks it up with patches of green, it may also be used as a partly carpeting plant, possibly in beds or to soften the edges of a gravel path.

In April, on the other hand, the purplish-red catkins of this little willow reach their full aesthetic potential. This is when they resemble little painted hare tails rising barely above the ground – a look that won’t go out of style in your yard.

12. Osier Willow (Purple) 

This bushy multi-stemmed shrub has big branches and a bushy look. The branches are grey or grey-brown in color, with a smooth, thin bark. 

The reddish-purple stems of the arching stems give the tree a year-round appealing appearance. The leaves are slim and glossy green with a blue-ish underside. When the leaves flutter and exhibit their vivid colors in wave-like patterns in the wind, they are exceptionally beautiful. 

The purple osier willow is utilized for commercial uses as well as screening, windbreaks, and specimen shrubs. Basket-making and fencing are two economic applications for this tree. One amazing truth about this tree is that its bark was used to create the first aspirin. 

This tree thrives in sandy and chalky soils, and is often seen in waterways and along coastlines. 

Willow Almond 13 

Salix triandra, or almond willows, are endemic to Europe, Western Asia, and Central Asia. The name almond willow comes from the dull, dark green leaves that resemble almonds. Like other common willows, male and female catkins, as well as new leaves, are produced in the early spring.

The tree may be used for a number of things. In Russia, the plant is used to create nectar for honeybees in the honey industry. Even better, the fast-growing plant can also be used to produce ethanol.

 The shoots are used to construct baskets in several parts of the globe. Other than that, this moisture-loving willow offers a broad variety of culinary uses. In many regions of the globe, the inner bark may be dried and powdered into a powder, which is used to make bread. 

Because the tree has a large root system, it should be planted at least 10 meters away from any structures. 

Pussy Willow (#14) 

The pussy willow is one of the first trees to bloom in late winter, adding beauty to any garden in the early months. It has fuzzy catkins that give beauty to any garden scene, and it blooms with whiteish-yellow flowers. All of this happens while the majority of the garden is dormant, which helps to bring it back to life. 

The silky catkins of these tree bears assist give a delicate layer of fur that acts as protection against the severe winter temperatures. 

The pussy willow is a plant that may be grown as a shrub or small tree. It has a lot of natural branches that come out of the ground. If you wish to shape it into a tree, they may be chopped away, leaving the strongest branch to create a trunk.

The branches of this plant are quite appealing, and they are often used in flower arrangements and landscape design.

White Willow is number fifteen. 

This tree may be found throughout Europe, Western Asia, and Central Asia. Plant it in direct, full sunshine to guarantee it flourishes. 

The white willow may grow to be 50 to 100 feet tall. Furthermore, the tree’s leaves are white on the underside, which explains the name “white willow.” 

One of the earliest trees to bloom in the spring and one of the last to drop its leaves, this is one of the few willow tree kinds that blooms in the spring and sheds its leaves in the fall. 

These trees, on the other hand, are particularly sensitive to pests and diseases, which may cause harm to the weak branches and stems. This tree, however, may thrive for up to 30 years if planted in the appropriate circumstances.

16. Willow Weeping 

One of the most recognized and well-known landscape trees is the weeping willow. It is a Chinese native with a name derived from its structure. To explain, this tree’s branches and leaves fall from above and hang over the ground. 

It grows well in full sun and practically any soil type. It also has the capacity to withstand drought and grows better in close proximity to water. Remember that these trees may reach 30-45 feet in height and 35-40 inches in width. 

To complement the location, place it in your casual garden landscape or at the side of a pond or lake. 

17. Pussy Willow in the United States 

Late in the spring, the spherical shrub of this tree fills with green leaves, giving it a round and new look. The male plants, on the other hand, produce very gorgeous catkins with a silky texture and pearl color before the leaves develop.

It will have a spectacular display of cotton buds as a consequence. Throughout the year, these little clouds may be seen hanging from the thin and dark young branches of this magnificent tree. The American pussy willow should be your first pick if you’re seeking for a plant that stands out. 

Conclusion

Willow trees should be considered while seeking for trees to add to your garden design. Willow tree variations offer it all, whether you’re searching for something enormous, little, or exquisite. Happy gardening!

Related Tags

• dappled willow tree
• invasive willow species
• white willow tree