White Willow

Salix alba is mostly grown as a pollard-willow in Netherlands. They are a typical element in Dutch landscapes. Formerly their branches we...Read Morere used for wicker-work..the trees itself as a windshield in the mostly flat Dutch landscapes. Pollard-willows do mostly grow along the many ditches in Dutch polder landscape...it loves to grow on moist places. It is one of the few trees that can stand such a very hard trim ...doing this for years they cannot live without this hard trim about every three years. ..otherwise they 'll die in time.. There's a special organisation who takes care after them...trying to save them..not only for their importantant architectural appearance in Dutch landscapes but also for their importance to wildlife. The trunk of a pollard- willow will fold open ..gets hollow in time...it gives shelter for bats, birds and even plants..

A naturalized European tree, White Willows can get quite large...up to 80 feet.

It's range is from Canada to Georgia and w...Read Moreest to Missouri. It is our only willow with leaves that are white/hairy above and below, making it pretty easy even for a novice to spot.