Description of willow for children. Willow: growing and caring for a tree in the garden. Ornamental species, hybrids and varieties of willow

Without requiring special attention to itself, the willow fully responds to the care shown - with a lush crown, a graceful bend of weeping branches and a light silver haze of leaves. Willows are very common and very well-known plants in central Russia. Most species of willows love humidity and settle in damp places; relatively few species grow in dry places (on slopes, sand, etc.) and in swamps. Willow is also found in forests, as a mixture of other trees.

Willow ( Salix) - trees and shrubs of the willow family ( Salicaceae). Common name: willow, willow, shelyuga, willow, vine, willow, tal, willow.

Description of willow

Willow appeared on earth quite early, its imprints can be found already in the Cretaceous formation, and in the Quaternary era they even lived modern views: Ash willow ( Salix cinerea), white willow ( Salix alba), willow willow ( Salix viminalis).

The willow genus includes at least 350 species, distributed mainly in the cool regions of the Northern Hemisphere, where the willow extends beyond the Arctic Circle. Several species are native to the tropics. IN North America more than 65 species, of which only 25 reach tree size. Most willows are small trees 10-15 m or shrubs, but there are willows 30-40 m high and more than 0.5 m in diameter.

In cold countries, willows grow far to the north; these are very low-growing dwarf willows: Willow blunt-leaved ( Salix retusa), willow reticulum ( Salix reticulata), willow grass ( Salix herbacea), willow polar ( Salix polaris).

Low-growing willows grow in the mountains. Herbaceous willow ( Salix herbacea) and others that reach the very snowy border. Polar and alpine willows are low-growing creeping shrubs - up to several centimeters in height.

Their interspecific hybrids are often found. Various types of willow, as already noted, are called: willow, willow, shelyuga, willow (large trees and shrubs, mainly in the western regions of the European part of Russia); vine, willow (shrub species); tal, talnik (mostly shrub species, in the eastern regions of the European part, in Siberia and Central Asia).

Due to the ability to produce adventitious roots, willows can easily be propagated by cuttings and even stakes (with the exception of Salix caprea- delirium, or goat willow). Seeds lose their viability within a few days; only at Iva Pyatychinkova ( Salix pentandra) the seeds remain viable until next spring.

Growing willow

Willow is very unpretentious to soil. However, it grows best on light to medium loams, especially if you remember to feed it with organic matter. It easily tolerates close groundwater.

Willow planting

To plant a shrub willow seedling, you need to dig a hole 50x50 cm, for tall trees a little large sizes- 60x60 cm and 40 cm deep. (When planting large-sized plants with a large lump of earth, the hole should be 40-50 cm wider than the lump, and the depth should be 30-40 cm greater). Fill it with a soil mixture (from 1/3 to 1/2 of the volume of the hole), which will consist of soil, compost or quail manure and peat (1:1:1).

If the soils are heavy, sand is added to the soil (up to 20%). In addition, for willow it is necessary to introduce complex mineral fertilizers, for example, azofoska (150-200 g). Mix the soil mixture in the hole well. When planting a hedge or dense alley, it is advisable to dig a trench 40-50 cm wide and 40 cm deep.

Willow with a closed root system easily takes root at any time - from April to October (the main thing is that the lump and roots are not overdried). But it is better to plant bare-rooted plants in early spring, before the buds open, or in September, with the beginning of leaf fall. When planting in autumn, the leaves of the seedling must be removed. Low-winter-hardy species and varieties should not be planted in winter, as their fragile roots and shoots may die from frost before they have time to develop.

Weeping form of Salix × sepulcralis. © Jdforrester

Willow care

In the first season after planting, willow needs abundant watering: 20-50 liters of water (depending on the size of the plant) once every two weeks and every week during the dry period. Then moderate irrigation will be enough for her. Shrub species that form a hedge should be trimmed once or twice a season (in spring and mid-summer).

As for feeding, complex fertilizers are applied two or three times during the spring and summer, and at the end of August - superphosphate and potassium sulfate. In rainy years, gray and black spots often appear on willow leaves, similar to a dirty coating. To restore a tree to its original beauty, you need to spray it with copper oxychloride (CHOM) or oxychome.

In autumn, it is advisable to remove fallen leaves from the area. Grafted trees must be cleared of wild growth in summer or autumn. We must not forget about sheltering non-winter-hardy varieties. This is done in October - early November.

How to decorate a willow garden?

In gardens and parks, willows are most often traditionally planted on the banks of a reservoir. And this is understandable - a natural landscape, a familiar image. But, of course, such a plastic and unusually impressive tree will decorate any corner of the garden, and its crown will protect from the sun.

Willows, planted at intervals of 1.5-2 m, form a high hedge, and in two rows - a shady alley. The alley of white weeping willow is especially beautiful when the trees close their crowns. To do this, already in the second or third year after planting, branches directed towards each other are intertwined at a height of 2.5-3 m or connected using ablation. Ablation is a grafting method used to connect shoots of one or different plants without cutting them.

True, this method requires special skills, so the easiest way is to braid the branches, securing both tops with thin plastic tape. After the closure of the willow branches, a green openwork tunnel is obtained. And if there is no room in the garden for an alley, then you can limit yourself to a green arch at the entrance - just two trees.

Shrub willows (crimped, purple, Caspian) are an excellent material for hedges. They will shade and at the same time decorate a children's or sports ground. But no less picturesque are the bushes, simply planted in a row or in several clumps along the garden path. And how interesting dwarf or weeping willows look in a rock garden, especially if a stream flows nearby or a small fountain gushes.

However, a lone willow on a wide lawn surrounded by flowering ornamental shrubs or in the company of coniferous plants, whose prickly beauty only benefits from such a contrast, is also impressive.

Types, varieties and forms of willow

There are more than 350 species of willows in the world different forms and sizes - from mighty twenty-meter giants to creeping shrubs several centimeters high. More than a hundred of them are in our country (there are about 20 species in the middle zone alone).

White willow (willow)

• silver shape. The tallest (up to 10-12 m) and most unpretentious of the decorative willows. It got its name due to the spectacular silver color of the leaves. Magnificent in parks - against the background of dense dark green foliage of large trees: horse chestnut, elm, linden. And planted in the background (along the hedge), these willows with their silvery foliage emphasize the beauty of red-leaved maples, plums, barberries or the dark needles of mountain pine and yew.
• weeping form. The tree is 5-7 m high, with a very beautiful crown, cascading, and long (up to 2-3 m) branches descending almost to the ground. It is undemanding to the soil, winter-hardy, and moisture-loving. Tolerates shade, but in the absence of sun the crown is not so dense and not so decorative. Weeping willow is good both on its own and in a small group of trees, especially along the banks of reservoirs. Ideally combined with flowering and decorative deciduous shrubs and low conifers: thuja, juniper, cypress.

Brittle willow (broom)

• spherical shape. The crown is very dense, regular spherical or dome-shaped. The tree is multi-stemmed, sometimes reaching a height of 7 m. It does not freeze even in cold winters. Excellent in both single and group plantings, it can serve as a good background for other ornamental plants. A small clump or string of such willows is especially picturesque on the shore of a reservoir. Rakita is also used as a hedge.

Goat willow

• weeping form. Very impressive, with weeping shoots arranged in a “tent” at the top of a small, usually one and a half meter, trunk. IN Lately it is becoming popular thanks to the foreign planting material that has appeared in our country. In good light, the tree forms a narrow tent-shaped crown with shoots hanging vertically down, sometimes right down to the ground. In spring, they are densely covered with fluffy flowers, turning the trees into large dandelions. It hardly grows upward, exceeding the height of the trunk by only 30-40 cm. It is planted in groups. But one tree is also beautiful against the background of plants with a different shade of foliage or at the turns of garden paths.
  They care for goat willow in the same way as any standard grafted plant. First of all, it is necessary to promptly remove the wild growth that forms on the stem under the grafting site (below the base of the weeping shoots at the top of the stem), otherwise the grafted part may die. Since this type of willow is not very winter-hardy, it should be planted in well-lit areas protected from the wind. In the northern Moscow region, it is better to cover the grafted part of the seedling for the winter by wrapping it in several layers of non-woven material. When planting, standard plants must be tied to three stakes to maintain verticality.

Willow tortuous

• Matsuda form. Golden spiral-shaped shoots with slightly curled leaves give it a special charm. Like any beauty, Matsuda's willow is very capricious. A foreigner, she does not tolerate Russian frosts well: in the Moscow region and more northern regions, in severe winters she is frozen to the level of snow, so she needs to be covered. This willow is planted only in illuminated places well protected from the wind. But even with ideal conditions in the Moscow region, the height of the plant rarely exceeds 3-3.5 m.
• Ural twisted. No less attractive than Matsuda, but better adapted to the Russian climate. The tree is not tall (up to 3.5 m), but very decorative, and at any time of the year. Its spiral-shaped greenish-gray shoots appear glossy brown in the sun. Regardless of the season, it tolerates pruning and trimming well, so it is suitable for hedges. Thanks to its twisted shoots and twisted “curly” leaves, this willow is pleasing to the eye both on its own and surrounded by other willow trees.

Willow whole leaf

• Variety "Hakuro-Nishiki". Very interesting shape with snow-white leaves at the end of the shoots and variegated in the middle and closer to the base of the branches. It grows as a low bush (up to 1.5 m) or a low tree - when grafted onto a standard. Disadvantage: low winter hardiness. In the middle zone, it is better to plant non-standard seedlings and cover the plants for the winter.

Purple willow

• medium-sized shrub, up to 2-2.5 m high, with a dense, almost spherical crown and glossy reddish shoots. In recent years, this species has become increasingly popular in Russia. Shade-tolerant, but not very winter-hardy. After freezing it grows back easily; it is not necessary to cover it for the winter. It is better to plant in places protected from the wind.

Caspian willow

• a spreading three-meter shrub with thin long shoots of pale yellow color and narrow hard leaves. Shade-tolerant, but not very winter-hardy. After freezing it grows back easily; it is not necessary to cover it for the winter. It is better to plant in places protected from the wind.

The main pests of willows and measures to combat them

Willow bark has long been used as an antipyretic and anti-inflammatory agent. But the beneficial properties of the plant do not end there. It is enough to mention that salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin, takes its name from the Latin word salix - willow.

In addition, willow is an excellent honey plant; its fluffy gray flowers with yellow stamens are unusually rich in nectar. And flexible willow shoots are used to weave durable baskets and make light furniture. We are waiting for your advice!

Willow is one of the most common trees both in Russia and in other countries. The plant is unusually good-looking: a strong trunk, long hanging branches, leaves of all shades of green and flowers, like fluffy earrings, fascinate with their beauty and beckon to the world of nature and harmony. Many people grow willow on garden plots or at home.

The tree has been an inspiration for many writers, poets and artists for a long time. A. Fet, A. Akhmatova, S. Yesenin, F. Tyutchev and others wrote about him. The famous storyteller H.H. Andersen, who owns the fairy tale “Under the Willow,” did not stand aside. The painting “The Weeping Willow” by C. Monet is also known.

Wood is widely used in manufacturing, industry, agriculture and medicine.

The bark and leaves of this plant in Greece and Ancient Egypt treated fever, and in the United States of America, broom infusions were used as a pain reliever. Later, scientists found that the tree has many useful substances, including salidroside, tannin, flavonoids, salicin and salicylic acid.

Flexible thin branches have long been used for weaving furniture, fences and enclosures, and fish traps. Today, chairs, baskets, boxes and cradles are made from willow twigs. In agriculture, it is an excellent honey plant, valuable because of its early flowering and a protector against erosion, easily coping with it thanks to its long and twisting roots.

Most species of the “willow” family are a separate ornamental crop that can decorate a park area or a personal plot. Many designers include plants in their compositions and create gardens in an original style.

Popularly, this tree has several names: willow, willow, willow, vine, lozinka, etc. Until now, scientists have not come to a consensus: willow is a tree or shrub. After all, the “willow” family has about 600 species, differing in size and external signs. Experienced gardeners know that this is a shrub and deciduous tree, but for amateurs it is not always clear where willow grows, why it is called weeping and what willow looks like.

The willow root system is just as varied as the willow species. It may be:

• formed compact vertical main root system;
• tiered, prostrate main root system;
• a system formed due to existing adventitious roots or vegetative propagation by cuttings.

In general, the root system of this tree is deep and powerful, but it is a little picky about the condition of the soil: the roots do not like too much moisture, despite the fact that the tree grows mainly on the banks of lakes, rivers, ponds and streams. Willows often form large “willow” groves that can stretch along the shore for a long time - the seeds are carried by the wind and when they fall into silt or water, they for a long time retain viability.

Gallery: willow tree (25 photos)

Tree species diversity

Trees of the willow family are distinguished by a transparent, see-through crown, thin and flexible shoots and narrow, pointed, oblong leaves. Willow fruits are small flowers. There are dwarf and shrub willows, many species reach up to 15 m in height, and the tallest - up to 40 m.

The diversity of species of this plant is the result of mutations occurring in nature, as well as human activity. During the study of the tree it was derived a large number of hybrids, which even botanists found it difficult to classify. And today, thanks to their work, we can distinguish the most common types of willow, various shapes, varieties and varieties, including decorative ones:

• silver;
• rod-shaped;
• crying.

Silver or white willow

Silver or white willow is a large tree up to 30 m high, with a spreading openwork crown and thick bark. Popular in Russia, China, Asia Minor and Western Europe. It is found on the banks of rivers and reservoirs; in favorable conditions it grows very quickly and can occupy vast areas; The tree is durable, not picky about soil, and can grow up to 100 years.

Distinctive features:

• thin branches of a silver-gray color (over the years they become brown);
• smooth, bright green, lanceolate-shaped leaves with finely serrated silvery edges on the reverse side;
• round inflorescences.

Silver willow is grown for landscaping in urban areas and is also used for vines. Its widespread use has led to the emergence of different varieties, shapes and varieties.

Varieties of silver willow:

• yellow (with a large rounded crown and red or golden yellow shoots);
• shiny (medium-sized tree with emerald-gray leaves);
• glaucous (the branches of the tree are directed upward at a slight angle, the leaves are bluish-gray in color).

The forms include:

• silver (a young tree with silver-gray leaves on both sides, later one side of the leaf changes color and becomes rich green);
• yellow weeping (distinguished by very long shoots all the way to the ground);
• oval (has elliptical leaves).

Among the varieties of white willow, the most popular are:

Weeping, or Babylonian

Babylonian, or weeping, willow is a tree with low, ground-level, green branches and a yellowish tint, and is brittle. It grows mainly in the subtropical zone: on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, Central Asia and the southern coast of Crimea. However, China is considered to be its homeland; it was from there that willow was transported to other regions. The height of the tree reaches 12 m, and the crown diameter is about 6 m; is considered an ornamental plant, because it has a short leafless period and only a couple winter months is without leaves. At the same time, the weeping ornamental willow is afraid of frost and will not be able to grow in cold conditions.

Of the varieties, the most popular is the Beijing one (common in Korea, China and Eastern Siberia).

There are many more known varieties:

• "Tortuosa" or Tortuosa (a tree with strongly curved twisted branches of a green-brown hue and bright foliage);
• "Crispa" or Crispa (a variety with interesting twisted shoots and leaves that form curls on long branches);
• "Tortuosa Aurea" or Tortuosa Aurea (plant with twisted red-orange stems).

Rod-shaped, or rod-shaped

The twig or twig willow is primarily grown for its vines, but decorative forms also exist. This is a shrub or tree up to 10 m, which has long flexible shoots and straight young branches covered with short silvery hair, which disappears over time and reappears after a while. The main difference of this plant is considered to be the many branched stems with a pile and unusual leaves of an elliptical shape, with different surfaces: dark green glossy on top and bluish pubescent on the bottom.

This species is one of the most widespread in France; the plant is protected in almost all regions of the country. On the territory of Russia it grows in Western Siberia and in Altai. The shrub does not like swampy places and is beautifully located on the banks of rivers along a living riverbed, it is light-loving, its stem cuttings take root well, it grows quickly and has excellent sprouting ability; resistant to spring frosts, considered a classic basket willow.

Most popular variety shrub - creeping silver willow, the French consider it a valuable highly ornamental plant with densely pubescent gray leaves and purple shoots. The plant blooms from March to May.

Willow (broom, willow, willow, willow, willow) is a tree-like plant or shrub, there are about 500 varieties. It is believed that willow got its name from the verb “to twist.” A flowering bush or willow tree represents the onset of spring and the rebirth of nature. Willow is native to North America and Eurasia.

Description of the plant

Most people know what willow looks like. It is impossible to imagine any body of water without ordinary willows growing on the shore. These are trees 10-20 m high with a lush, dense crown, drooping branches, narrow-leaved, blooming with yellow, fluffy catkins. Bush willows reach a height of 1 to 3 m and bloom with white fluffy “seal” flowers.

Willows can be divided into two main types: shrubby and treelike. The largest willow reaches a height of up to 40 m, with a diameter of more than 1 m, and the smallest is a plant about 2 cm high. The leaves of the plant are oblong, 8–10 cm long, 6–12 mm wide. On the one hand, they are bright green, on the other - silvery-white with a grayish tint.

The flowering period of willow is from March to April. The flowers are catkins, unisexual, the fruit is a capsule. Women's and males appear separately on different trees. Willow leaves turn yellow and fall off in the fall.

Wherever willow grows: near roads, along the banks of rivers, lakes, ponds, on hillsides, and high in the mountains, in fields and forests, it quickly takes root, propagates by cuttings and layering, as well as by seeds. It grows even in the North beyond the Arctic Circle (its dwarf species: herbaceous, polar).

How to grow an apple tree of the popular Borovinka variety

Variety of varieties

The diversity of plant species has been studied and described since the 1st century. First, several species of willows were described by the scientist Pliny the Elder. The development of a general classification of willows began at the beginning of the 18th century. About 30 species were described by the botanist Carl Linnaeus. The species composition has undergone many changes. Some scientists erroneously identified interspecific willow hybrids as a separate species. There are still debates about the taxonomy of species among scientists from different countries.

From the general diversity of species, decorative and economically important species are distinguished.

There are such varieties of willows:

Growing small Japanese bonsai trees

Economic use

Willow is widely used in agriculture and forestry. It helps maintain natural resources. Directions for use:

Use in medicine

The bark, leaves and catkins are used for medicinal purposes. It was in this plant that salicylic acid was first discovered.

The bark of young trees contains plant glycosides, tannin and has antibiotic properties. Bark decoctions are used orally for inflammatory diseases, colds, and rheumatism.

Due to its disinfecting properties, the bark is used for rinsing for stomatitis and sore throat and as lotions for bedsores, eczema, and thrombophlebitis. Dry bark powder is sprinkled on difficult-to-heal wounds.

ASPEN

Osinka
Painted
Autumn.
I like Aspen very much.
She shines with gold,
There's only one pity -
Flies around.
(V. Lunin)
Even in calm weather, in an aspen forest you can hear the faint noise of rustling leaves, as if they were constantly whispering about something. If a breeze blows, the aspen leaves begin to sway and rustle.
You've probably heard the expression: “trembles like a leaf.” This is what they say about a person who is cowardly or overcome by fear. This expression did not arise by chance. For a long time, people have noticed that at the slightest breath of wind, aspen leaves begin to rustle - “tremble.” Why is this happening? Aspen leaves are round in shape and sit on a long petiole. When air moves, they begin to sway, hit each other and make noise. It is interesting that the leaves of young shoots are completely different from the leaves of an adult tree. They are larger, softer, slightly pubescent, with a pointed tip. The petioles of young leaves are short and round in cross-section, and they cannot “tremble”.
Aspen blooms in early spring. The leaves have not yet bloomed, and the aspen is covered with long, shaggy catkins. In autumn, aspen leaves are among the first to acquire elegant colors in different shades: from soft yellow to bright crimson. Aspen fruits ripen in autumn. Its seeds are light and small. Thanks to their fluffy crest, they fly over long distances. Young aspen trees are characterized by rapid growth. Young trees (up to 30 years old) grow 1.5–2 meters annually. The life expectancy of aspen is 60–80 years.
Since ancient times, aspen wood has been used as a finishing material in the construction of wooden churches. From it they cut a ploughshare - a patterned shingle that covered the domes. Properly dried wood is second only to oak and pine in strength, so it is suitable for making boats and skis.
MYSTERY
What kind of tree stands -
There is no wind, but the leaf is shaking?
(Aspen) FOLK SIGNS
Aspen in catkins - harvest for oats.
Just as the aspen trembles, so the cattle in the field are well fed.
In autumn, one berry is a bitter rowan, one tree is a bitter aspen.

PINE

The pines want to grow to the sky,
They want to sweep the sky with branches,
So that within a year
The weather was clear.
Pines are slender, tall trees, with beautiful golden trunks. The lower branches on pine trees die quickly, as nutrients in the lower part of the trees they are consumed faster than they are accumulated during photosynthesis. Therefore, the pine forest resembles a bright temple with majestic columns. Residents Northern Europe created many fairy tales about this tree. In the East, they believe that pine trees ward off misfortune and bring happiness. Being in a pine forest is not only pleasant, but also useful. The air there is always clean. Pine trees highlight essential oils that kill germs.
All year round: pine remains green both in winter and summer. The needles on it are not replaced all at once, but gradually: some needles fall off, and new ones grow in their place. Pine needles are longer than spruce needles and are attached to the branch two needles at a time.
Pines are photophilous plants that love space and sun. Look at Pinery and it seems that the pines are stretching upward, closer to the sun.
Pines can be found on sandy soils, in swamps, on rocks, among crevices. They are not capricious and can adapt to different conditions. The roots of the pine tree are powerful and large. On sandy soils, the roots rush down, extracting life-giving moisture. On swampy soils they tuck in to escape excess moisture.
Pines are the most ancient trees on our planet. Scots pine, common in the middle zone, grows for 300–500 years. Long-living pines are found in North America. Bristlecone pine grows in the highlands of California. In 1955, one of these pines was cut down. It turned out that her age is 4900 years. She's older Egyptian pyramid Cheops. Now all long-lived pines are taken under state protection. Among them there are many trees older than 4000 years.
MYSTERY
I have longer needles
Than the Christmas tree.
I'm growing very straight
In height.
If I'm not on the edge,
The branches are only on the top of the head.
(Pine) FOLK SIGNS
A lot of cones on pines and spruces - to good year: both rye and wheat - everything will come.
In a storm, if you listen carefully, the pine tree rings, and the oak tree groans.

WILLOW

Let's sit here by this willow tree.
What wonderful twists
On the bark around the hollow!
And how beautiful they are under the willow
Golden shimmers
A stream of shaking glass.
(A. Fet)
Different types Willows received their own, memorable names among the people: willow, willow, willow, black-talk, white-talk.
Willow is found everywhere: from the desert polar tundra to the steppe Central Asia. In the north it reaches only a few centimeters, and in the south there are huge 30-meter trees.
Near the river near the cliff
The willow is crying, the willow is crying.
Maybe she feels sorry for someone?
Maybe she's hot in the sun?
Maybe the wind is playful
Did you pull the willow's pigtail?
Maybe the willow is thirsty?
Maybe we should go ask?
(I. Tokmakova)
Willow has long roots, so it is planted to consolidate loose sand, strengthen the banks of canals, slopes, dams, and to create forest belts. Weeping willows, which are planted in parks and along the banks of reservoirs, look very beautiful.
If you see a willow tree, then you know that somewhere very close there is water - a pond or river. In the old days, people looked for water using a willow twig. Where the twig trembles and bends down means that there is an aquifer deep in the ground, and this is where you need to dig a well. People who searched for water with a willow twig were called dowsers.
In spring, the willow blooms and its branches are covered with catkins. Ripe fruits open, releasing light, feather-like seeds. The wind carries them far from the parent tree.
Willow seeds have amazing ability. Having fallen to the ground, they begin to germinate within an hour! After a day, the seed acquires a tail—a root—and a stem rises up.
Many animals feed on young shoots of willow. In the tundra, deer feed in thickets of willow trees, and elk feed in the forest zone. Willow twigs are used to weave baskets and make wicker furniture. Various crafts are made from white willow wood.
MYSTERY
Buds are silver
Flowers are gilded,
And the skin on the branch -
Red color.
(Willow)

Botanical name: Weeping willow, Babylonian (Salix), genus of the Willow family.

Homeland of the weeping willow: Iran, Western China.

Lighting: photophilous.

The soil: light and medium loams.

Watering: moderate.

Maximum tree height: 25m.

Average lifespan of a tree: 100 years.

Landing: seeds, cuttings and layering.

Description of the weeping white willow tree and photo

Weeping willow - with a transparent, see-through crown up to 25 m high. The trunk is powerful, the bark is gray. The crown is narrow, columnar, later spreading, wide, round.

The branches are thin, flexible, with matte, purple and light green bark, directed upward, side shoots hanging down. The leaves are petiolate, arranged alternately. The leaf blade is wide, elliptical, in some species it is narrow and long.

The color of the leaves is dark green, the lower part is light green and bluish. The buds can be dark brown and red-yellow. The flowers are dioecious, small, inconspicuous, collected in earrings. Willow blooms on early spring, before the leaves bloom.

The fruit is a capsule. The seed is small, with white fluff, light, and transported by winds over long distances. Willow tree. Photo

The weeping willow tree is common in the Northern Hemisphere, the tropics, and North America. Dwarf willows grow in the mountains. Willow species such as willow, willow, shelyuga, willow and others are found in the European part of Russia. Shrub species grow in Siberia and Central Asia.

Reproduction of weeping willow

Under natural conditions, the plant reproduces by seeds. Light seeds are carried by wind over long distances. Germination of willow seeds in air lasts for several days. In water, germination can persist for up to several years. A young willow sprout develops and grows very quickly, but can be drowned out by grass and other plants.

Growing willow

At home, willow is propagated by cuttings. Lignified cuttings, cut before buds open, quickly take root. Before roots form, they can be placed in water, and then planted in the ground. Due to the fact that willow is not whimsical and takes root in the shortest possible time, its cuttings are stuck into the ground of the greenhouse, so that 2-3 buds remain on the soil surface.

Willow is also propagated by green cuttings. To do this, make an oblique cut at the bottom, remove the apical soil and shorten the leaf blades. Then the cuttings are placed in a greenhouse or under a jar.

When planting willow shrubs, dig small holes 50x50 cm for each seedling. The depression is filled with a soil mixture consisting of soil, compost, peat and manure. Are being added. The plant is not picky about soil, but prefers light to medium loams. It is best to grow willow in a well-lit, sunny place. These trees do not grow in the shade. Special care for willow is required in the first weeks of planting.

Young seedlings need constant watering and fertilizing. During periods of drought, they are watered once a week (20-50 liters of water per plant). In spring, the soil is loosened and mulched. Dry branches are trimmed and a crown is formed. Long shoots on the lower part of the trunk are removed.

Pests and diseases of white weeping willow

The willow tree is rarely affected by diseases, but is sometimes damaged by fungal diseases, which are provoked by frequent rains and excessive watering. With the onset of sunny weather, fungal diseases disappear. However, if dark gray spots appear on the willow leaves, it is necessary to treat the tree with copper-containing preparations. If the leaves are damaged, insecticides are sprayed.

Use of white willow and its bark

Widely used in folk medicine received white willow bark, rich in tannins, glucose, flavonoids, ascorbic acid and resins. Willow bark has an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic effect. An infusion of white willow bark is used for colitis, gout, female diseases, gastritis, internal bleeding, liver diseases, spleen diseases and other diseases. A decoction of the leaves of the tree is used for severe bleeding in the intestines and for colds. Pregnant women and nursing mothers are not recommended to use medications, which contain this plant.

The abundantly branched roots of willow serve to strengthen loose soils and sands. Willow plantations can often be found around mountain streams. Trees are used to secure river banks, canals, slopes, dams, slopes and cliffs.

Thick willow twigs are used to make sheds for sheep and pens for livestock. The bark of the trunk and branches is used as a natural dye, which is used to dye wool, leather and silk red, brown and yellow.

The wood, which is quite soft and pliable, quickly rots and is used for making crafts. The branches are used to feed livestock, especially goats and sheep. Willow bark is used for tanning leather. To Orthodox Palm Sunday According to a long-standing tradition, branches of a young tree are used instead of palm leaves.

Willow bark juice is included in some cosmetic preparations that smooth out fine wrinkles, relieve redness, and cleanse the skin.

Previously, willow twigs and the bark of this tree were used to make wickerware, furniture, baskets and other products.

White willow is often used in landscape design. Planted in parks and forested areas. The rapid growth of the tree allows it to be used for lining roads and for rapid landscaping.

White willow bark is used for tanning leather. The shoots serve as feed for livestock. In addition, willow is considered a valuable honey plant. Bees take nectar, pollen and bee glue from the tree. When white willow honey crystallizes, it becomes fine-grained, creamy in color, and has a pleasant taste and fragrant aroma.

Weeping decorative white willow

One of the forms of willow - white willow - is a deciduous tree, 20-30 m high with a wide-rounded, weeping crown. The trunk is powerful, reaching up to 3 m in diameter. The bark is dark gray, longitudinally fissured in old trees. Young shoots are olive-green or red-brown. The lower branches bend to the ground. The buds are reddish-yellow, flattened, sharp, 6 mm long, 1.5 mm wide. The leaves are narrow, alternate, with a pointed tip, 5-15 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, dark green, yellow in autumn, bronze. They stay on the branches for a long time. Flowers are thick, cylindrical earrings, 3-5 cm long. Fruits are capsules, 4-6 mm long. White willow blooms in April-May, at the same time as the leaves bloom.

Decorative white willow in the photo (click on the picture to enlarge):

Photo gallery

Growing conditions

White willow is widespread in Europe, Western Siberia, Asia Minor and Iran. In central Russia, cultivated forms of trees are planted, which gradually become wild in the area where they are planted.

White willow grows along the banks of rivers, ponds and other bodies of water. Found along roads and near houses. Lives up to 100 years. Propagated by seeds. Cultural forms are propagated by cuttings. The plant is light-loving and frost-resistant. Photos of white willow can be seen in the gallery below.

White willow: weeping form

A small tree 5-7 m high. It has a beautiful crown that flows down and long branches stretching all the way to the ground. It is not demanding on soils, is frost-resistant, and moisture-loving. It is shade-tolerant, but in the shade the crown becomes not as dense as when planted in a well-lit place.

Weeping white willow is used in group and single plantings. Combines with ornamental shrubs, deciduous and coniferous trees: thuja, juniper, cypress and others.

Weeping decorative willow

The beautiful crown, shape and color of the leaves make it possible to classify this tree as an ornamental plant used to decorate garden plots, alleys, parks and public gardens. Some types of willows attract attention with their originality and quirkiness.

For example, the Matsudana willow has unusual, twisted branches and seemingly crumpled leaves. Some ornamental willows are small in size, these include woolly, reticulated, blunt-leaved, whole-leaved and purple willows.

Dwarf trees reach a height of no more than 20 cm. Low-growing willows are usually planted in flower beds, next to flowers, and such compositions look very impressive.

Decorative forms of weeping willow look good both in group and single plantings. Some species can be grown in a small garden. The willow crown is easily formed into a ball.

History of the tree. The magical properties of willow

This beautiful, flexible, graceful tree has been valued since ancient times. IN Ancient Greece The willow was a symbol of the goddesses Hecate and Hera. Roman poets praised this tree in their works. In Ancient Egypt, it was considered a symbol of the power and wisdom of the deceased, so its branches were burned on funeral pyres. In ancient Rome, willow twigs were first used.

In the Middle Ages, decoctions and infusions of willow bark, leaves and seeds were used to heal wounds and stop bleeding.

The weeping willow tree has long been considered feminine and was dedicated to lunar goddesses, the moon and fertility. They endowed her and magical properties. Slavic pagans used twigs of this tree to decorate altars before performing rituals. Wreaths woven from willow twigs were famous love spells. A decoction of willow leaves was mixed into a lover’s drink; such a drink also served as a love spell. This tree was used to make amulets for good luck in love affairs. This type of jewelry was worn by unhappy lovers. The Slavs called willow, willow and willow. These names are still used today.

Today, willow is considered a calming and relaxing tree. Contact with it has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, puts thoughts in order, eliminates headaches and improves mood.

Associated with this tree folk signs and superstitions. It is believed that if you knock on a willow trunk, it will bring good luck. If you put its leaves under your pillow, you will have a good dream.

By its nature, willow is quite sensitive, so when contacting it, you need to be extremely sincere; willow especially does not like liars, so it can have a negative impact on the health or fate of an insincere person.

Why is the willow called weeping?

There are three versions of this name: scientific, folklore and poetic.

According to the scientific version, willow is a tree that tends to secrete small drops of water. This happens because the roots of the plant absorb a lot of moisture, much more than what the leaves evaporate. In addition, the weeping willow has a unique shape. Its long, curved branches stretch down to the ground, hence the “weeping” feeling of the tree. Weeping willow grows near ponds, with its roots immersed in the water.

The poetic version is based on the observations of poets who tend to notice and admire every detail of nature. Early in the morning, sparkling drops of dew can be seen on the thin leaves of the willow, which begin to fall off with a light breeze. This picture gives the impression that the tree is shedding tears or crying.

The folklore version is based on folk beliefs and legends. According to one legend, illuminated willow branches were placed in the house to protect against evil spirits, the smallest of them were burned, and that’s why this tree cried.

Another belief said that if the weather was bad outside for a long time, you should throw a willow branch into the yard, then the rain would stop. This also brought tears to the sensitive tree.

On Ivan Kupala they made madder from willow and decorated it with wreaths and ribbons. The girls swam to the middle of the river and left the madder there, but it could not swim to the shore and take root, so it cried.

There are many other interesting ancient legends associated with this plant.

Orally folk art you can find many signs, proverbs and sayings about willow. After all, once upon a time the life of the people was closely connected with this tree. Willow was used in the household, in everyday life and in folk medicine. She was worshiped and deified, endowed with unique properties.

“The willow was covered with frost early - for a long winter.”

“Where there is water there is a willow, where there is a willow there is water.”