5 Common Willow Trees In Utah (Photos & Identification)

Utah, a land of stunning landscapes and natural wonders, is home to a variety of trees, including the graceful willows that dot its valleys and waterways. 

Willow trees, with their slender branches and delicate leaves, add beauty while also providing important wildlife habitat. In this article, we explore the fascinating world of willow trees and provide a key to the most common willow trees in Utah, in the hopes that it will aid nature lovers and curious residents in making positive identifications. 

From the majestic Black Willow to the charming Peachleaf Willow, we will look at their unique characteristics, habitats, and the important role they play in Utah’s ecosystems. 

So, let’s get started.

1. Peachleaf Willow

• Common Name: Peachleaf Willow
• Scientific Name: Salix amygdaloides
• Mature Height: 50ft
• Native/Non-Native: Native throughout much of the northern U.S. and southern Canada, including northern Utah
• Flowers/Cones: Fruit a capsule; many capsules attached to a stalk several inches long; seeds very small, hairy
• Uses: Unimportant wood; likes wet areas very near streams or lakes

The Peachleaf Willow, scientifically known as Salix amygdaloides, is a tiny tree or shrub endemic to the northern United States and southern Canada, including northern Utah. It is hardy in zones 2-8.

It is one of the most widely seen willow trees in Utah particularly in wet places near streams or lakes. Its leaves are simple and have a pale or bluish underside. The edge is sharply serrated, and the leaves are oblong to ovate-lanceolate in form. They can reach lengths of 5 inches and widths of 1 inch. The leaves fall off in the fall and are more sharply pointed than those of other willows.

The twigs of the Peachleaf Willow are slender to stout, yellow to brownish in color, and often brittle. There isn’t a terminal bud, but there are tiny reddish-brown lateral buds. The fruit is a short-stalked capsule about 1/4 inch long. The seeds are quite tiny and hairy, and they are linked to a stem many inches long.

Peachleaf Willow bark is brown-red and rather thick, with interconnecting ridges. Its wood is little, and it is rarely planted in gardens. There are no cultivars for it, and it is only suggested for willow-friendly settings where native plants are a high priority.

2. Black Willow

• Common Name: Black Willow
• Scientific Name: Salix nigra
• Mature Height: 60ft
• Native/Non-Native: Native to most of the eastern U.S., not native to Utah
• Flowers/Cones: Unknown
• Uses: Used for pulp, charcoal, and lumber

The black willow is the most majestic among all the willow trees in Utah. It is a tree endemic to most of the eastern United States but is planted in Utah. It thrives in damp soils along stream and lake banks, where it can reach adult heights far greater than most North American willows. 

The leaves of the black willow are similar to those of the peachleaf willow, however, they can be a little longer and bright green on top and pale green on the bottom. Furthermore, the bark of the tree is brown to practically black and hardens with age, generating interwoven ridges. 

Black willow wood is somewhat important, with white sapwood and heartwood ranging from light brown to red-brown. The growing rings are hazy, and the rays can only be seen with a hand lens. The tree produces pulp, charcoal, and lumber. 

While the black willow was planted extensively in pioneer landscapes in Utah and may have escaped cultivation, it is not often planted elsewhere. It grows quickly and matures in 50 to 70 years, despite being exceedingly shade sensitive. Some sources indicate that black willow is native to the West, however, this appears improbable and could be due to misidentification. 

3. Crack Willow

• Common Name: Crack Willow
• Scientific Name: Salix fragilis
• Mature Height: Up to 50-70 feet tall
• Native/Non-Native: Native to Europe and Western Asia
• Flowers/Cones: Catkins with yellow stamens in early spring

The Crack Willow (Salix fragilis) is a deciduous tree that can grow to heights of 50-70 feet. It is native to Europe and Western Asia, where it can be found near rivers, streams, and wetlands.

The Crack Willow tree gets its name from the tendency of its fragile branches to develop cracks or splits. This feature lends the tree a distinct appearance. The serrated leaves are elongated, narrow, and lance-shaped.

The Crack Willow produces catkins, which are cylindrical clusters of flowers, in early spring. Female catkins are smaller and greenish in color, while male catkins have yellow stamens that release pollen. The tree is dioecious, which means that male and female flowers grow on separate trees.

The Crack Willow, like other willow species, has advantages and disadvantages. It is a fast-growing tree with attractive foliage that provides plenty of shade. The tree’s flexible branches make it wind resistant. The Crack Willow, on the other hand, has a shallow root system that can cause problems when planted near structures or underground utilities. 

Because of its brittleness, the wood of the Crack Willow is not highly valued. It is prone to breaking, particularly during storms or when subjected to heavy loads. However, this characteristic makes it suitable for certain applications, such as basket weaving or making cricket bats.

In terms of ecological benefits, the Crack Willow helps to stabilize riverbanks and prevent soil erosion. Its extensive root system aids in the retention of soil moisture and the filtering of pollutants from water.

4. Weeping Willow

• Common Name: Weeping Willow
• Scientific Name: Salix babylonica
• Mature Height: Up to 40-50 feet tall
• Native/Non-Native: Native to China
• Flowers/Cones: Small, inconspicuous flowers in early spring

The Weeping Willow tree is a popular shade tree with a lovely, weeping appearance. It is native to China and can reach heights of 40-50 feet. The leaves are narrow-lanceolate with a light underside.

Although this tree is popular, it does have certain drawbacks. Weeping willows require a lot of water, and their timber is weak from the trunk to the twigs. They also develop too quickly for most environments, making them transient. Without these issues, better species can acquire the same crying habit.

The Weeping Willow tree’s form is mainly found in female trees, although another weeping willow tree with a weeping form is the Salix alba Tristis variety, often known as the Golden Weeping Willow. It grows in zones 5-8 and is also known as the weeping willow.

Weeping Willow trees have numerous uses aside from being a popular shade tree. The bark has therapeutic benefits and is used to make charcoal and other products. However, the tree’s flaws render it unsuitable for certain landscape applications.

5. Globe Willow

• Scientific Name: Salix matsudana var. ‘Navajo’
• Common Name: Globe Willow, Globe Navajo Willow
• Mature Height: 30-50ft
• Native Region: China
• Flowers/Cones: Small flowers

Globe Navajo Willow, also known as Globe Willow, is one of the medium-sized willow trees in Utah. It can reach a height of 30 to 50 feet, making it a huge tree. This Chinese tree has narrow-lanceolate leaves that are 2 to 4 inches long and 1/4 to 1/2 inch broad. The tops of the leaves are bright green, while the bottoms are lighter.

The Globe Navajo Willow is a lovely tree with an equally rounded crown that is ideal for landscaping. It grows quickly, but regrettably, it, like many other willows, has a short lifespan. Despite being stronger and more hardy than other willows, it is overused in Utah and the West, which is not helpful for its sustainability.

While it is the spherical shape and bright green leaves make it appear appealing from a distance, its thin wood, susceptibility to slime leakage, and other disease and pest problems suggest that we should plant it less frequently. 

The Globe Navajo Willow can be grown in zones 4-9.

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Common Willow Trees In Utah – 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 & Shrubs In Yard And  Garden, Utah State University Extension
2. Native & Non-Native Tree Identification, Utah State University Forestry Extension.
3. Native Plants, Utah Native Plant Society.
4. A Guide To The Trees Of Utah & Intermountain West, Book By Michael Kuhns, Utah State University Press.