Common Willow Trees In Ohio (3 Types You Must Know)

Ohio is home to many willow tree species, which can be found in different regions of the state. These trees are renowned for their quick development and capacity to flourish in wetlands and along riverbanks. 

Since they are primarily grown for ornamental purposes, adding some of them to your backyard may be a good idea if you’re looking for some ornamental trees.

To help you choose, I’ll go over three of the popular willow trees in Ohio with high-quality photos and thorough descriptions.

So, let’s get started.

1. Weeping Willow

• Common Name: Weeping Willow
• Scientific Name: Salix babylonica
• Mature Height: 40-80 feet
• Native/Non-Native: Non-Native
• Flowers/Cones: Flowers (catkins) and fruit (catkin-like fruit)
• Uses: Planted as an ornamental in parks and yards

The Weeping Willow is a non-native tree from Asia that has been used as an ornamental in parks and yards for 75-100 years. It is a lovely tree with a single crooked trunk and many drooping branches that reach the ground, giving it a very broad-round crown. This tree’s short lance-shaped leaves are bright green above and pale below, giving them a silvery appearance when the wind blows across them.

Catkins, which are 1 inch long and stand erect on a short leafy stalk, are the flowers of the Weeping Willow. The catkin-like fruit is also 1 inch long and made up of many little capsules that open to release seeds connected to white cottony material. Weeping Willow bark is light brown with many medium furrows and flat-topped corky ridges.

Although the Weeping Willow is no longer widely planted, it is still a lovely tree that can be found growing around the edges of ponds and lakes. This tree’s twigs are extremely flexible and hang almost to the ground. Surprisingly, a willow bark extract (salicin) is linked to aspirin and was originally employed in the same way. So the Weeping Willow is not only lovely, but it also has medical properties!

2. Pussy Willow

• Common Name: Pussy Willow
• Scientific Name: Salix discolor
• Mature Height: 10-20′ (3-6 m)
• Native/Non-Native: Native
• Flowers/Cones: Catkin with silky hairs
• Uses: Collecting for floral arrangements

Pussy Willows are little natural trees that can be found throughout Ohio’s northern half. These trees are distinguishable by their distinctive catkins. These young catkins with silky hairs are harvested in early spring for use in floral arrangements. 

The Pussy Willow’s leaves are simple, lance-shaped, and alternate on the branches, with a gleaming green upper surface and a paler underside. The leaves are generally reddish and woolly when they are young. The Pussy Willow’s bark is gray to brown and features shallow furrows.

Catkins contain the blooms of the Pussy Willow. When immature, these catkins are half to one inch (1-2.5 cm) long and coated in silky hairs. 

The fruit of the pussy willow is also catkin-like, consisting of many capsules containing the seeds. The Pussy Willow leaves turn a beautiful yellow in the fall.

Pussy Willow twigs are reddish purple with tiny orange spots. The word discolor alludes to the pale underside of the leaves. The Pussy Willow is distinguished by its small leaf-like stipules on the leafstalk and its contrasting green upper and pale lower leaf surfaces.

3. Black Willow

• Common Name: Black Willow
• Scientific Name: Salix nigra
• Mature Height: 40-60′ (3-6 m)
• Native/Non-Native: Native
• Flowers/Cones: Catkin with silky hairs

Black willow is one of the commonly found medium-sized willow trees in Ohio. It normally grows to a height of 40 to 60 feet. Black Willow is recognized for its distinctive blossoms, which hang from 2-3 inch long catkins. 

These catkins are made up of several capsules, each of which contains seeds. Black Willow also bears fruit in the shape of catkins. 

Black Willow has a narrow, uneven crown with crooked trunks that can be solitary or many. It has dark brown bark that is highly furrowed and has huge, scattered scales and flat-topped ridges. 

Black Willow leaves are simple and slender, having a bright green look on both sides. They are approximately 3-6 inches in length and have a fine-toothed edge. 

Wet soils, such as stream banks, wetlands, and other similar locations, are common habitats for Black Willow. It is a shade-intolerant species, which means it needs sunlight to survive. That is why you rarely see black willow growing under the canopy of other trees in the forest. 

Black Willow’s leaves turn a lovely bright yellow in the fall. In its native area, black willow is an important species. Many diverse creatures, including birds and insects, use it for shelter and food. For generations, its bark has also been used for medicinal purposes.

Common Willow Trees In Ohio – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In this section, I will be going through some of the most frequently asked questions about native and common willow trees in Ohio. 

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Sources

The Regional Gardening team makes sure that the information in our articles is accurate by only using sources that are known to be trustworthy. Some of these sources are peer-reviewed journals from government agencies, well-known universities, and scientific research organizations.

1. Trees Of Ohio, Division Of Wildlife
2. Trees Of Ohio Field Guide, ​​Book by Stan Tekiela
3. Ohio Trees, OSU Extension Publications
4. Native Plant Lists, Ohio Department Of Natural Resources
5. Ohio Department Of Agriculture
6. Gardening, The Ohio State University