• Willow (Salix) is a woody plant. Willow is also a genus of the Willow family (Salicaceae).

• The Willow genus includes more than 370 species, mainly distributed in the cool regions of the Northern Hemisphere, where the distribution area of ​​the willow extends beyond the Arctic Circle. Various types of willow are called: willow, willow, shelyuga, willow (large trees and shrubs, mainly in the western regions of the European part of Russia); tal, talnik (mostly shrub species, in the eastern regions of the European part, in Siberia and Central Asia); vine, willow (shrub species).

• Willows appeared on the earth quite early; imprints of their leaves are found in the deposits of the Cretaceous formation.

• Young willow branches are used in Orthodox tradition instead of palm leaves on Palm Sunday.

• Willow is used in treeless areas as a building material (wicker weaving).

• Willow bark and the twigs of some bush willows are used to make wicker products (baskets, furniture, dishes, etc.).

• The weeping willow is interesting. It grows along the banks of reservoirs. “Tears” drip from its leaves. What makes willows cry? Since willow grows mainly near bodies of water, its roots are immersed in water, which the willow receives in excess. And the air near a lake or river is humid. Natural evaporation is extremely insignificant, water is retained in the leaves, and water with beneficial properties is released from the roots. minerals doesn't reach. While the root is absorbing more water As the crown evaporates, the willow drains excess water through the leaves, that is, it “cries.” This process - the release of water droplets by leaves - is called guttation.

More photos of willow

In this photo, her little “puffs” have just hatched in anticipation of spring. There is snow all around and it’s still cold.

Now they are becoming larger as spring progresses, warming and snow melting. Willow, especially willow, symbolizes the beginning of spring for a reason.

And now the willow is blooming, attracting numerous

Weeping willows are dozing, quietly bending over the stream...

Russian folk song

Along roads, streams, on the banks of rivers, lakes and ponds, or not far from housing, you can often find a large spreading tree, sometimes reaching thirty meters in height. This is a white willow, or willow. The branches of the willow are green-yellow. The bark and underside of the leaves are covered with silky hairs, reminiscent of a whitish coating. You have probably seen more than once how in a matter of seconds, as soon as a gusty wind blows, the crown of the willow from green turns into silver-white. If a willow grows near water, then it is especially noticeable how thin flexible branches, as if exhausted, hang down, with the tips of their leaves touching the water. Perhaps that is why the epithet “weeping” is firmly attached to the willow.

In folk poetry, willow is a symbol of sadness and beauty. In fairy tales, songs and legends of many European peoples, the willow is likened to a living creature. She talks and cries, and if she is cut, blood flows from her. The words of a Russian folk song are addressed to the willow tree as if it were a living creature:

Willow, my green willow, Why are you, willow, standing sadly? Or, willow tree, does the sun bake you, bake you with the sun, or whip you with frequent rain?

In myths ancient Greece Everything that is sad and sad is connected with willow. For example, in Colchis, on the way to the Golden Fleece, Medea planted a willow grove. There was a custom to hang the bodies of the dead on the willows growing in this grove. Under the ground in the grove of Persephone, the mistress of the underworld, sad willow trees also grow. And in the myth of Hercules, one of the keepers of the wonderful golden apples so bitterly mourned the apples stolen by Hercules that she was turned into a willow tree.

Among the American Indians, willow branches were a symbol of peace, friendship and hospitality.

As a sign of the solemn feast, Invitations to the wedding, She sent willow branches to all the neighbors On this day.

This is what it says in G. Longfellow’s poem “The Song of Hiawatha” about Hiawatha’s mother. The Indians used willow branches as a kind of invitation cards. Willow bark was also given symbolic meaning. The bark was certainly added to the tobacco of the peace pipe, which was smoked with the guests. Therefore the mistress

Immediately she filled the stone pipes with southern tobacco, tobacco with fragrant grass and red willow bark.

Year after year, from generation to generation, observing the willow, Russian peasants noticed that if the willow was covered with frost early, then there would be a long and protracted winter. This is a sign of autumn. And here is the spring one, very important for the farmer: “When the fluff flies from the willow, these are late oats.”

“A tree that survives grows from a poke,” says a popular saying. This also applies to willow. Like a poplar, a willow stake freshly cut down in spring germinates easily. This extraordinary ability of willow to survive was used in some places in the cultivation of dense hedges. For the speed of growth, and especially for beautiful shape crowns and soft silver-green foliage, willow is grown as an ornamental tree in gardens and parks.

Willow bark is one of the best tanning agents used in leather tanning. It was especially widely used as a tanning agent in the northern regions of the country, where, as is known, oak does not grow. In Rus', a special type of leather, the so-called yuft, was made with willow bark. Translated from Dutch, “yuft” means “pair”. This name becomes easy to understand if briefly

get acquainted with the technology of making yuft leather. The two skins were sewn together, and finely ground willow bark was poured into the resulting bag. The bag was sewn up and water was lowered into it. The leather was simultaneously tanned and dyed red-brown. Red tan leather was used to make shoe uppers and saddlery.

In the dyeing industry, willow bark was used to dye wool brown and black. From the bark that remained after cleaning the rods intended for weaving, a stain was sometimes prepared for painting wood. Willow bark was filled with water, table salt and vinegar were added, and then boiled. When the broth turned dark brown, a birch or linden product was immersed in it and continued to be cooked. Birch treated in this way acquired some resemblance to valuable walnut wood.

Willow bark is widely used in medicine. A decoction of willow bark was used in folk medicine to treat colds. It has long been noted that the juice of the bark reduces fever and soothes rheumatic pain. Relatively recently, scientists have learned to obtain aspirin from willow bark, which has now become one of the most common medicines in the treatment of colds.

Craftsmen used strips of willow bark to

weaving. They were used to weave dishes, shoes, ropes and fetters for

horses, weaved small rugs.

White willow, or willow, is a heartwood species with narrow white sapwood and a brown-red heartwood. The core wood is unevenly colored. Longitudinal sections show dark and light stripes that run along the fibers. The boundary between heartwood and sapwood is blurred.

The annual layers of willow wood can be distinguished by the naked eye in all sections due to a narrow dark strip running along their border.

The medullary rays are so small that they cannot be distinguished with the naked eye. There are core repetitions in wood. On a transverse section they appear as small light spots, and on a longitudinal section they appear as light lines.

Willow wood is very light and soft, dries out little and hardly cracks when dried.

In peasant farming, willow wood was used for a variety of needs. In the steppe regions of our country, bathhouses, barns and even residential buildings were built from willow ridges. From large trunks they hollowed out troughs, watering logs, hewed out rivets for cooper's utensils, and light shovels for bread and snow. Light and warm hives were made from willow boards.

Willow wood can be cut well with a variety of cutting tools. Therefore, craftsmen made turning and carved dishes from it. After lying in water for a long time, the wood

It is painted in a gray-violet color with pink and bluish hues. The wood of a living tree also turns purple if the roots and lower part of the trunk are under water for a long time.

Flexibility is one of the most remarkable properties of willow wood. It is difficult to find a more versatile material for weaving than willow twigs. In the old days, peasants harvested willow branches using the so-called topless method. They cut off the top of a willow tree growing near the house, which was used for firewood and various crafts. By autumn, the remaining part of the trunk was densely overgrown with young shoots suitable for weaving. Most of the twigs were cut off, and by the next autumn new ones grew in their place. They do approximately the same thing in modern basket production, breeding cultivated species of willow - twig-shaped, purple and others - in special areas. Cut branches are renewed annually. Peasants wove baskets from thin one-year-old willow branches, bent rims for cooper's utensils from two- to three-year-old branches, and made bows for horse harnesses from thicker branches. If it was necessary to bend the “finger” handle for a Lithuanian scythe, they chopped a willow branch about two fingers thick, cut it to the core and, carefully bending it, pressed the handle of the scythe. Well, if they made tuesoks from birch bark, then they couldn’t do without willow. Two thin rods went to the rims, and from a thicker round piece they cut out 88 and then bent the handle. In those places where thatched roofs were common, poles were tied with willow twigs, pressing the straw to the roofs.

In modern production, willow twigs are used for weaving furniture and various baskets. The wood is used to make shells for sieves, embroidery hoops and tennis rackets.

In addition to willow, more than 170 species of willows grow in our country. The differences between many species are so subtle that only specialists can establish them. Only a few types of willows are known in everyday life, with bright and unusual external characteristics and a specific field of economic use. And of course, each of these species received a bright, memorable, sometimes figurative name: bre-dina (goat willow), three-stamen willow (belotal), or purple willow (yellowweed), brittle willow (broom), five-stamen willow (chernotal), willow holly (willow).

In early spring, when the snow has not yet completely melted in the forest and the gray branches of the trees seem lifeless, suddenly, somewhere along the side of a forest road or on the edge of a small clearing, willow flowers will flash in the sun with bright yellow lights. Here, around the sweet-smelling golden balls, there is a bustling spring revival. Sun in early spring deceptively, and numerous bumblebees and bees, flies and butterflies are in a hurry to collect the first spring forest gifts: pollen, nectar. Bredina willow is the earliest honey plant. And when the delirium fades and is covered with foliage, under

Here you can meet uninvited guests - sheep and goats. Domestic goats are such big fans of willow foliage that people began to call the foliage goat willow. But commercial sand animals are not averse to feasting on dry willow leaves and young branches in winter, which the huntsmen prepare for hay.

In the Caucasus, the goat willow served as an object of worship, like fugitive sacred trees; it was called the “green cross.” And in some places there was a custom obliging the groom, before the spring holiday of Easter, to bring to church from Thursday to Friday a willow trunk with branches hung with multi-colored woolen threads and scarves - gifts for the bride. The decorated willow tree stood in the church until the holiday. On the day of the holiday, the stump along with its outfit was solemnly burned.

In folk medicine, kidney scales, which emit a strong and pleasant aroma, were used as a remedy for malaria.

Willow wood has a reddish-brown or yellow-pato-brown color. Soft and light wood is easy to cut and polish. Due to its thin trunk, it is used only for small turning and carving work. It makes good coal for gunpowder.

There are suggestions that once upon a time in the Tver province, the very first keychain, a ringing-voiced wind folk instrument, was made from poly-bredina. And the keychain got its name in honor of the local name for the nonsense, from which it was usually cut...

Where the vines huddle over the pool, Where the summer sun bakes, Dragonflies fly and dance, A merry round dance takes place.

These poems by A.K. Tolstoy are dedicated to the vine, also called oelvine, belotal, and in science - three-stamen willow. This small shrub grows along the banks of rivers, lakes and other bodies of water in almost all areas of our country. The leaves of the belotal are oblong, long, narrow and shiny. The bark is greenish-yellow on the outside and lemon yellow on the inside. Vine bark is one of the best tanning agents, as it contains a large number of tannins - tannins. In medicine, salicin is obtained from it, which is used as a disinfectant and antipyretic. "Salicin" means "willow" in Latin. It is also used in the production of gelatin, glue, paints and protein preparations. Dyers obtain a yellow dye from the bark of belotal.

Long thin belotal rods are a valuable raw material for weaving. They have high elasticity and bend well. Bark-free twigs have a white and clean surface with a beautiful glossy shine. Craftsmen willingly use belotal rods to weave elegant decorative items.

The unbarked twig is used for various household needs. This is a material that is used right near the place of growth. Various dams are made from belotal, dams and eroded banks are strengthened. In steppe regions, willow twigs are tied into special mats, which are used as building material for outbuildings. Unrooted belotal is used to weave container baskets and fishing rods...

The willow is all fluffy and spread out all around; Again the fragrant spring blew its wings.

Who doesn’t know these poems dedicated to willow and spring by the Russian poet Afanasy Fet...

Botanists call the willow quite prosaically - holly willow. Even in winter, the bud scales of the willow are covered with fluffy lambs. In each lamb, like in a warm hare's fur coat, an earring sleeps, sheltered from the winter frosts. Lambs also appear on other types of willows. But on red-crimson, as if polished to a gloss, willow branches they are more impressive and immediately catch the eye. The appearance of lambs on the willow tree at a time when everything around is still immersed in hibernation, seemed to man a small miracle and a signal for the awakening of nature. Therefore, willow branches were revered as a symbol of awakening nature. Even the ancient Slavs attributed magical properties to willow. It was believed that willow branches could protect a person from all sorts of misfortunes and the machinations of evil spirits. They protected crops and guarded livestock. The willow branch was like an amulet, which was kept in the red corner of the hut, but they did not forget to hang the branch in the barnyard. And in the spring, when it was time to drive the cattle into the field for the first time, the housewives affectionately whipped their little cows with willow branches, specially saved for this occasion. It was believed that after such parting words the cow would not drown in a swamp, would not be poisoned by poisonous grass, would not fall into the teeth of a wolf and, of course, would give a lot of milk - tasty and fatty. It turns out that a dried willow twig has such “magical” power. Now, of course, the willow branch is no longer given mystical significance, but as a symbol of awakening nature, an elegant fiery red branch with white silky lambs is always a good guest in our home.

In some areas of the country where willow grows in abundance, flexible and thin branches are used for weaving baskets and furniture, and larger ones are used for hoops. Long, thin willow roots are good for weaving. Harvesting of willow roots is usually carried out in the peat mining area.

In Russia it grows throughout the country, except for the Arctic and eastern Siberia, mainly along river banks and in damp places.

The tree has a height of up to 25-30 m and a trunk up to 3 m in diameter, covered with gray bark with deep cracks. The crown is spherical in shape. Willow lives up to 80-100 years. Blooms in April-May.

Her favorite places are the banks of rivers and ponds. She reaches out to the water, bending her “weeping” branches over it. These branches are so flexible that they are used to weave baskets. And willow grows roots so easily that it doesn’t cost anything to take root in a new place. Sometimes it is enough to stick a willow twig into the damp ground and a tree will grow from it. Therefore, willows are often used to strengthen the banks of canals and reservoirs, and the slopes of dams.

In spring, the sweetish aroma of willow spreads throughout the forest, the yellow downy feathers of its flowers are visible from afar. Its flowers are very small, only a few millimeters.

Willow bark is a good tanning agent. Since ancient times, Russian leather workers have soaked cow and elk hides along with willow bark. And the result was excellent leather - yuft. Yuft was valued for its strength and was used to make shoes, saddles and belts. Even today, willow bark is used for tanning leather.

Medicines are also obtained from the bark. Russian healers used it to relieve pain: the healing substances contained in willow bark are akin to aspirin.

Early spring on the bushes various types and soft, fluffy white “lambs” appear. Many therefore believe that willows bloom earlier than all other trees. But this is not true. “Lambs” willows are not flowers. These are undeveloped inflorescences, where each tiny flower is hidden under its own scales, covered with numerous long hairs. Hairy scales, like a fur coat, cover the buds, which develop unhindered under their warm clothing and are not afraid of even severe frosts. Willow flowers will appear later. Instead of white “lambs”, the willow will be decorated with bright yellow fragrant inflorescences. Swarms of insects will swirl around the willows at this time, attracted by the opportunity to feast on nectar and pollen.

A wonderful tree, widespread throughout our country, is willow. It is unusually beautiful: a powerful trunk, thin hanging branches, graceful elongated leaves of various shades of green, flowers in the form of fluffy earrings. Perhaps every resident of the northern hemisphere is well acquainted with willow, and many grow it in their garden plots.

People call willow willow, willow, willow, vine, lozinka, willow, shelyuga, and the names vary depending on the area.

The tree has long served as inspiration for poets, writers and artists. A. Fet, S. Yesenin, A. Akhmatova, F. Tyutchev and many other poets dedicated their lines to him, and G. H. Andersen wrote a fairy tale called “Under the Willow Tree”. The most famous painting depicting this plant is considered to be “Weeping Willow” by C. Monet, however, the tree can be seen in many landscapes.

Willow is also known in many religions. In Christianity, the willow replaces palm branches on Palm Sunday. In Judaism, the tree plays the role of one of the symbols of the holiday of Sukkot. According to Chinese mythology, a jug with a willow branch that drives out demons is held in the hands of the merciful goddess Guanyin. Willow trees are often mentioned in folklore. Japanese legend says that where the broom grows, a ghost lives, and the British consider the willow to be an ominous plant that haunts travelers.

This unusual tree is famous not only for its mystical, but also for its down-to-earth, practical properties. Willow is widely used in medicine, industry and production, and agriculture.

• Medicine. Willow leaves and bark were used to treat fever back in Ancient Egypt and Greece, and Native Americans used broom decoctions as a pain reliever. Later, scientists discovered a number of useful substances in different parts of the plant: tannin, salidroside, salicin, flavonoids. And the well-known salicylic acid, from which aspirin was subsequently made, was first discovered in willow.
• Production. Since ancient times, thin flexible branches have been used by residents of the northern hemisphere for weaving furniture, fish traps, fences and fences. Wicker weaving has survived to this day. Nowadays, baskets, chairs, boxes, and cradles are most often made from willow twigs. Wicker items are extremely beautiful and fit perfectly into many interior styles. Willow wood is also suitable for making paper, rope and even fabric, and eco-friendly fashion in recent years has revived interest in natural products from willow.
• Agriculture and the environment. Weeping trees are also widely used in agriculture. Firstly, willow is an excellent honey plant, especially valuable for its early flowering. Secondly, the branches and leaves are suitable for livestock feed. Broom is often planted along sliding banks or slopes of ravines. Thanks to its long, twisting roots, the plant copes well with erosion. The vitality and durability of the tree sometimes even becomes an environmental problem; for example, in Australia, willow was widely used to strengthen the banks, planting huge areas with it. The willow has taken root well and has replaced many native plants. In addition, the tree is used for wastewater treatment, the formation of protective forest belts, and the drainage of wetlands.
• Gardening and landscape design. Willow, and especially some of its varieties and species, is an excellent ornamental crop that can decorate any area. In addition, the tree is unusually unpretentious and grows quickly. Many famous designers include willow in their compositions, creating gardens in a romantic style.

Botanists classify the genus willow (Latin: Salix) in the willow family (Latin: Saliceae). The genus includes woody plants and shrubs, which can be deciduous or, much less commonly, evergreen. Representatives of willows vary greatly: some of them are large trees with a powerful trunk, reaching 40 meters in height, others are dwarf creeping shrubs. Appearance determined by the area of ​​growth. Tall species are found in the temperate and subtropical zones of Europe, Asia and America, and dwarf willows grow mainly in the north.

Most often, willow has a large weeping crown, consisting of a large number of elongated branched stems covered with bark of various shades: from light green to dark purple. The bark of young shoots and trunk is usually smooth, but begins to crack with age. The leaves, with rare exceptions, are arranged spirally and sit on a short petiole with two stipules. Their shape is very diverse: most often there are species with linear and narrow-lanceolate leaves, a little less often - with elliptical and even rounded ones. The edge of the leaf blade is usually decorated with small or large teeth, although there are species with smooth edges.

Willow is a dioecious plant with small male and female flowers collected in dense inflorescences-catkins. Some willows bloom in early spring, before the leaves appear, others a little later, in May-June. After flowering, the fruit ripens in the form of a capsule with a large number of small seeds with a thick white tuft. The seeds are carried by the wind over long distances and, once in water or silt, remain viable for a long time.

Ornamental species, hybrids and varieties of willow

In total, there are at least 550 species of different willows in the genus. Such diversity is the result of natural mutations and human activity. Over a long period of study of the plant, many hybrids have been bred. Even botanists often find it difficult to classify one species or another, let alone ordinary amateur gardeners.

And yet, we can identify several of the most common species suitable for landscaping parks, squares and garden plots.

Willow white or silver(lat. Salix alba) is a large (up to 30 m in height) tree with thick cracking bark and a spreading openwork crown. The plant is widespread in Russia and the former Soviet republics, as well as in Western Europe, China and Asia Minor. It is found mainly along the banks of rivers and other bodies of water and often occupies huge areas. It is very unpretentious and grows quickly in favorable conditions; in the northern regions, young shoots may freeze a little. It is durable (some specimens reach 100 years or more), tolerates both lack and excess of moisture, and is undemanding to the soil. Excellent for landscaping large, including urban, areas, and can be used to produce vines.

Distinctive features of the species are thin hanging branches, painted silver-gray; with age, the shade of the shoots changes to brown. The bright green, smooth leaves have a lanceolate shape and a finely serrated edge; the reverse side of the leaf is silvery, slightly pubescent. Round inflorescences-catkins develop in the spring, simultaneously with the leaves.

I. white

The widespread use of the crop has led to the emergence of various forms, varieties and varieties.

Some varieties:

• Yellow (var. vitellina) - large rounded crown and golden yellow or reddish shoots.
• Brilliant (var. sericea) is a medium-sized tree with graceful, emerald-gray foliage.
• Gray (var. caerulea) – branches point upward at a slight angle, bluish-gray leaves.

• Silver (f. argentea) - young leaves have a beautiful, silver-gray tint on both sides, later the front side of the leaf becomes rich green, the back side remains bluish.
• Yellow weeping (f. vitellina pendula) - very thin and long shoots that fall to the ground.
• Oval (f. ovalis) – leaves of an unusual elliptical shape.

Among the large number of varieties of white willow, the following can be distinguished:

• "Golden Ness" (Golden Cape) is a variety that received an award from the Royal Horticultural Society. The plant is especially attractive in winter when graceful golden-yellow branches are exposed.
• "Tristis" (Tristis) is a fast-growing willow with a classic appearance: narrow silver-green leaves on thin drooping branches. It is highly frost-resistant and recommended for areas with cold winters.
• "Yelverton" (Yelverton) is a low tree or shrub with bright red-orange shoots.
• "Aurea" is a large plant with unusual yellow-green leaves.
• "Hutchinson's Yellow" is a shrub reaching 5 m in height, decorated with graceful shoots of a reddish-yellow hue.
• "Britzensis" (Britzenskaya) - shoots of a red-brown hue.
• "Chermesina Cardinalis" (Chermesina cardinalis) - very spectacular variety with scarlet branches.

I. "Golden Ness", I. "Yelverton", I. "Aurea", I. "Chermesina Cardinalis"

Babylonian willow or weeping willow(lat. Salix babylonica) is a tree characterized by brittle yellowish-green drooping branches. Distributed in the subtropical zone - Central Asia, the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, the southern coast of Crimea. Contrary to the name, the birthplace of the culture is China, from where it was transported to other regions. It reaches a height of 12 m, the diameter of the crown is about 6 m. In addition to long stems that reach the surface of the ground, it stands out with beautiful glossy leaves, bright green on top and silvery below. It is very decorative, as it has a short leafless period: the leaves fall only in January, and already grow back at the end of February. Babylonian willow is especially beautiful in early spring, when it is covered with fresh young greenery.

I. Babylonian

Unfortunately, the species is not frost-hardy and cannot grow in regions with cold winters. Otherwise, the crop has no special preferences: it does not require special soils and easily tolerates short periods of drought.

One of the varieties is widely known:

• Beijing (var. pekinensis) - distributed mainly in China, Korea and Eastern Siberia. Also known as Matsuda willow (lat. Salix matsudana).

There are many more varieties of weeping willow:

• "Tortuosa" (Tortuosa) - a plant with interestingly curved, as if twisted, brown-green branches and bright fresh foliage.
• “Crispa” (Crispa) - this variety does not have curled shoots, but leaves that form intricate curls on the branches.
• "Tortuosa Aurea" - twisted red-orange stems.

I. "Tortuosa", I. "Crispa", I. "Tortuosa Aurea"

Purple willow(lat. Salix purpurea) is a plant whose popular name is yellowberry. This species is found throughout the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. It is a medium-high (on average 3 m, maximum size - 5 m) deciduous shrub with dense purple or yellowish shoots directed upward. Elongated, bright green on top and silver-green on the reverse side, the leaves are arranged in pairs, and not alternately, as in other species. The inflorescences, which appear in early spring, are purple in color, hence the name of the taxon. Purple willow is often used for wickerwork and in ornamental gardening as a hedge.

I. purpurea

The most famous forms:

• Graceful (f. gracilis) is a fast-growing shrub with elongated bluish leaves.
• Hanging (f. pendula) is a shrub with a wide crown formed by thin hanging shoots of purple color.
• Dwarf (f. nana) - distinguished by its compact size and neat spherical crown.

Among the varieties are the following:

• "Norbury" (Norbury) is an elegant low-growing variety.
• "Goldstones" - shoots of a beautiful golden hue.
• "Irette" is a low shrub with narrow gray-green leaves.

Goat willow(lat. Salix caprea) is often popularly called delirium or broom. The official name refers to the plant's consumption by goats and sheep. Wild specimens are often found in the temperate zone of Europe and Russia, as well as in Siberia and the Far East. Unlike other species, it prefers to settle in dry places, however, if this is not possible, it can also grow along the banks of reservoirs or in swamps.

This is a large (up to 13 m in height) tree or shrub with spreading powerful branches and oval bright green leaves. The shape of the leaves differs from other types of willow and rather resembles a bird cherry. Earring inflorescences appear in early spring, even before the leaves appear, and numerous seeds ripen in May.

I. goat

The plant is widely used in medicine, agriculture, construction and crafts. At the same time, a number of decorative forms and varieties have been obtained, the main application of which is landscaping of various territories:

• "Kilmarnock" (Kilmanrock) is a low shrub with long drooping branches, greenish oval leaves and yellow or gray inflorescences.
• “Weeping Sally” is a variety similar to the previous one, but more compact in size.
• "Silberglanz" (Silver gloss) - elongated leaves with a silvery coating on the surface.
• “Gold Leaf” - the leaves of this variety, on the contrary, have a golden hue.

(lat. Salix integra) is an East Asian species, most often found in Japan, China and Korea. It is distinguished by its modest (no more than 3 m in height) size and compact shape. Some botanists consider the plant to be a species of purple willow. It stands out as spreading. reddish or yellowish. branches and narrow leaves with practically absent petioles.

Often found as decorative culture, the standard form is especially common. The most popular variety - "Hakuro-nishiki" (Hakuro Nishiki) or "Nishiki Flamingo" (Nishiki Flamingo) is known for its compact size and beautiful variegated leaves in cream, pink and green shades. These varieties are often grafted onto the more frost-resistant goat willow and grown in middle lane without shelter.

I. whole-leaved "Hakuro-nishiki"

Willow brittle(lat. Salix fragilis) is a species familiar to Russia, widespread in Europe and Western Asia. The plant was introduced to North America and Australia, where it became a weed, displacing native species.

It is a large (up to 20 m) deciduous tree with a long life expectancy. The spreading crown consists of thin branches that easily break with a loud crack (hence the name of the species). Broken branches that fall into the water take root easily, and when the current carries them further, they form new colonies. The shoots bear elongated bright green leaves.

I. brittle

There are several varieties found in culture:

• Bubble (var. bullata) - a beautiful crown with soft rounded hills, a bit like a giant broccoli.
• Basfordiana (var. basfordiana) is a hybrid with bright, yellow-orange branches.
• Rousseliana (var. russelliana) is a tall, fast-growing variety.
• Reddish (var. furcata) is a dwarf willow with bright red inflorescences.

Decorative varieties:

• "Rouge Ardennais" (Red Ardennais) - showy reddish-orange branches.
• "Bouton Aigu" (Thin bud) - shoots from olive green to purple.
• "Belgium Red" (Belgian red) - burgundy shoots and emerald green leaves.

Willow(lat. Salix viminalis) is usually used to produce vines, but there are also decorative forms. This is a tall (up to 10 m) shrub or tree, distinguished by long flexible shoots that become lignified with age. Young branches are covered with short silvery hair that disappears over time. Very narrow alternate leaves appear in April, simultaneously with golden-yellow inflorescences.

Holly willow(lat. Salix acutifolia), also called red willow, grows in most of Russia. This is a deciduous tree or shrub, the maximum height of which is 12 m. Most often, the plant is found along the banks of rivers and lakes, but it can also settle outside water bodies. It is distinguished by thin long shoots of brown or reddish color and narrow two-color leaves: bright green above, grayish-silver below. The plant is especially beautiful in early spring, when the fluffy catkins bloom, and this happens even before the leaves appear. The most famous variety - "Blue Streak" (Blue Stripe) stands out for its elegant bluish-green leaves.

I. twig-shaped, I. holly

creeping willow(lat. Salix repens) is a very graceful, low-growing (no more than 1 m) species, common in France. In other regions it is found very rarely and only as a cultivar. The main difference is the large number of branched stems, which are initially covered with silvery fluff and then become bare. The leaves are oval-elliptical in shape and have different surfaces: pubescent bluish below and glossy dark green above. Fluffy inflorescences bloom in April or May. The plant is protected in many areas of France.

The most popular variety is the creeping silver willow (var. argentea) - a valuable highly ornamental plant with densely pubescent grayish leaves and purple shoots.

Shaggy or woolly willow(lat. Salix lanata) is a subarctic species that grows in Iceland, Northern Scandinavia, and northwestern Russia. It is a spherical, low-growing (no more than 1 m) shrub with dense branched shoots. Young shoots are covered with short bluish fluff; over time, the stems become brown and smooth. The leaves of the species are interesting - silvery in color, oval-ovate in shape. The texture of the sheet is velvet, felt. The species is excellent for landscaping areas in the northern regions.

I. creeping, I. shaggy

Willow lancet(lat. Salix hastata) is another low-growing shrub species, the average height of which is 1.5 m, and the maximum size is no more than 4 m. It grows on the slopes and banks of Arctic rivers, in the Alps and tundra. Wild specimens are often found in Northern Europe and America, the Far East, Siberia, and Central Asia. The plant is distinguished by branched shoots that grow upward or spread out on the ground, as well as oval leaves, smooth on top and slightly pubescent on the back side.

Willow reticulum(lat. Salix reticulata) is a low-growing ornamental plant native to Eastern Siberia and Far East. In nature it serves as food for deer. This is a branched low (up to 0.7 m) shrub, decorated with branched creeping stems and unusual leaves. The leaves are oval-shaped and dark green in color with a textured silky surface. Due to its elegant appearance, netted willow is often used in the design of parks, squares and garden plots in the northern regions.

I. spear-shaped, I. reticular

Willow in landscape design

The variety of broom species allows you to choose a plant suitable for specific conditions. First of all, you need to focus on the size and location of the site.

In wide open spaces large area Large powerful trees will be appropriate - silver willow, goat willow, brittle in temperate climates, Babylonian willow in the south. Tall cultivars are perfect for landscaping city parks and squares, and creating protective vegetation strips along roads. The ability of the above species to grow rapidly, smoke and gas resistance makes them indispensable for planting in areas of new buildings.

Willow, especially its water-loving varieties, is indispensable for decorating and strengthening the banks of various reservoirs. It does well in humid environments. The only problem is that the perennial grows very quickly, occupying free areas. The plant should be carefully monitored: young shoots should be cut down annually.

Medium-sized varieties of willow - purple, whole-leaved - are planted as tapeworms in open clearings or lawns. They serve as the center of the landscape composition, around which more low crops. Another option for using such willows is the organization of hedges.

Compact species and varieties (creeping, reticulated, hairy, spear-shaped) can be placed even in modest-sized areas; these plants will not take up much space. Such willows look good as the lower or middle tier of a landscape composition of different heights, composed of shrubby perennials. In addition, low-growing willow is perfect for decorating the banks of miniature country ponds: streams and ponds. This way you will get an original imitation of river landscapes.

Growing and care

Growing willow in your garden is not difficult: the tree is very unpretentious and does not require complex care. However, the diverse species of willows are often not similar to each other and need different conditions: soil, amount of water and lighting. The method of plant propagation may also differ. That is why the gardener’s first task is to determine the type of willow and, depending on this, act in the future.

Location, soil, fertilizing, watering

Almost all plant species are considered light-loving. They can easily withstand straight lines Sun rays and prefer open spaces, however, a little shading will not harm the tree. Willow can be planted both in open sun and in partial shade.

The humidity of the area depends on the selected type. The vast majority of willows in nature prefer to settle along the banks of water bodies, so they should be placed as close to the water as possible.

[!] With the help of powerful roots, an adult willow consumes a large amount of water every day. This property of the tree is used to drain swampy soils and areas with near-surface groundwater.

Willow is not picky about soil composition, although it prefers a loose (water- and air-permeable) and nutritious substrate containing a sufficient amount of sand and loam. The tree does not like peat soils in which moisture stagnates, and only some willows (white and purple) are able to grow on peat bogs.

Only young, immature specimens need feeding and watering. Subsequently, the tree itself obtains the necessary moisture through a powerful root system.

Trimming

Willow tolerates decorative pruning well, and its crown becomes even denser and more decorative with the help of this procedure.

Low and medium-sized willows with branches pointing upward can be formed in the form of a ball or an umbrella on a stem (trunk); in drooping varieties, long shoots that reach the surface of the ground should simply be slightly shortened. It is not forbidden to regulate the height of the tree, restraining its growth.

It is better to remove excess branches in early spring, before the beginning of the growing season, or in late autumn. The tree can be slightly adjusted throughout the summer. The following are subject to pruning:

• powerful leading shoots (this will restrain the growth of the tree and promote the appearance of young lateral shoots),
• excess growth on the trunk (if the willow is formed on a trunk),
• branches growing inward and thickening the crown.

As for standard willows, there are two main forms: fountain and ball. To get a fountain on a stem-leg, the shoots should be shortened quite a bit at the edges, so that the length allows them to hang freely, forming a green semblance of water jets. The spherical shape requires more radical cutting in a circle.

[!] When pruning, always leave the outermost bud on the branch, pointing upward. In the future, the young shoot on such a branch will also grow correctly - upward.

If there is an old tall willow growing in your garden that interferes with other crops and occupies a significant part of the plot, do not get rid of it completely, but form a nice green ball lying on the ground. Simply cut the trunk close to the soil surface. This way the trunk will stop growing upward, and young shoots will soon appear from its lower part, which can be trimmed to the desired shape.

The trunks of young willows often bend or bend toward the ground. To fix this, you need to tie the trunk to a support, for example, a metal pipe dug into the ground and leave it for 2-3 years. During this time, the trunk should straighten and acquire the desired shape.

Reproduction and planting of willow

IN wildlife willows reproduce by seeds, cuttings, and some species even by stakes. In cultivation, it is best to take cuttings from a tree, since the seeds quickly lose their viability in air and are well preserved only in water or silt.

Cuttings for planting should be cut from branches that are not too old and not too young. They should not be too thick or, on the contrary, thin - both of them are unlikely to take root. The optimal length of an individual cutting is about 25 cm. Young root growth, broken off with a “heel” (a piece of root), is also suitable.

You can plant cuttings for rooting at the end of October, before the onset of frost, or in mid-spring. The leaves at the bottom of the shoots are removed and stuck into the soil at a slight angle; they can first be soaked in the root for a day, although without this the rooting percentage is quite high.

If several willows are planted at once, then the distance between them should be at least 70 cm for low-growing species, 1-3 m for medium-sized ones and 5-7 m for tall trees.

Pests and diseases

Willow is a food plant for many insects. The tree is attacked by more than 100 species of aphids, beetles, larvae of various butterflies, wood ants, and sometimes wasps build their nests on the willow. An adult plant can usually withstand insect attacks without difficulty, but young plants can suffer greatly. In order to protect fragile willows, pests should be collected by hand or, if the colony has grown too large, destroyed with the help of modern insecticides.

IN rural areas young willows are often eaten by grazing goats. These animals should not be allowed close to planted trees. Of the rodents, mice are dangerous because they undermine succulent roots and green shoots.

The tree is attacked not only by pests, but also by various infections. One of the most common willow diseases is rust, caused by the fungus Melampsora, the main symptoms of which are brown and orange spots on the leaves. Fungicides - antifungal drugs - will help fight the disease.

Young seedlings can become infected with fusarium. It can be recognized by the blackening branches and drying leaves of the plant. To get rid of the disease, infected shoots should be cut back to healthy tissue, dried leaves should be removed and burned. Treat the remaining part of the tree generously with fungicides.

Sometimes willow leaves suddenly turn yellow and fall off in the summer. Usually this sign indicates a lack of moisture; simply water the plant generously.

Willow, without exaggeration, can be called a fairy-tale tree - it is so beautiful and spectacular. Plant a weeping beauty on your site; the tree will give you many pleasant moments.

Family: willows (Salicaceae).

Motherland

Willow is found throughout Europe, grows in Russia, except the Far North, and also in Central Asia.

Form: deciduous tree or shrub.

Description

And you - deciduous trees or shrubs, individual species of which may differ significantly from each other in external signs. The genus “Willow” has approximately 300 species, many of which are found in cultivation. As a rule, willows are distinguished by a transparent, see-through crown, thin, flexible shoots and narrow, pointed, elongated leaves. Willow flowers are small. Most willows reach a height of 10-15 m, but there are also tall trees- up to 30-40 m in height, as well as dwarf willows.

White willow (silver willow) , or willow . (S. alba). A large plant from 15 to 25 m tall and from 8 to 15 m wide. The trunk of the white or silver willow is powerful, the bark is gray. The crown is initially narrow-columnar, later spreading and widely rounded. The branches of the white willow are directed upward, the side shoots hang down slightly. The leaves are lanceolate, silvery-gray when blooming, then grayish-green. White willow flowers are yellow, with a pleasant aroma, bloom in late April and early May. White willow grows in sun or partial shade, is winter-hardy and wind-resistant. White willow grows quickly; lives up to 100 years. In nature, it is found throughout Europe, up to the Urals (except for the Far North). Silver or white willow has a weeping form (willow ‘Pendula’). The weeping willow is distinguished not only by its very beautiful crown, but also by the color of its shoots: in the spring the bark is bright yellow, and in the summer it is red-brown. The leaves of the weeping willow are also very decorative - narrow, light green, pointed. Weeping white willow easily propagates (summer and lignified cuttings).

Goat willow (S. caprea). A fast-growing large shrub or small tree from 3 to 12 m tall and 3 to 5 m wide with a short curved trunk and a rounded crown. The branches of goat willow grow vertically, the side shoots are spread out and raised. Goat willow leaves are round or broadly elliptical, light green, gray below, slightly pubescent. The flowers are yellowish-silver with a pleasant honey aroma. The root system of goat willow is usually superficial. After 20-30 years of growth, goat willow becomes brittle. In nature, the plant is found in Europe and Central Asia. Goat willow is propagated by seeds, and decorative forms by grafting.

Willow brittle (S. fragilis). A medium-sized tree (sometimes a shrub) with a height of 5 to 15 m and a width of 6 to 8 m. Often brittle willow has a curved shape with several trunks. The crown is asymmetrical, rounded, openwork. Brittle willow grows quickly. The leaves are long, elongated, lanceolate; dark green above, bluish or pale green below; greenish-yellow in autumn. Brittle willow flowers are greenish-yellow, with a pleasant aroma, bloom in April-May. The shoots are yellowish or brownish, glossy, fragile, and take root easily. The willow root system is fragile, superficial, and wide. Winter-hardy, not wind-resistant. In nature, brittle willow is found from Europe to western Asia. The plant propagates by cuttings.

(S. purpurea). A large shrub from 2 to 10 m tall and wide with numerous shoots. The shape can be different - dome-shaped, funnel-shaped, umbrella-shaped. The shoots are densely growing and take root easily. The leaves of the purple willow are narrow-lanceolate, pale green above, bluish below; in autumn pale or golden yellow. The flowers of the purple willow are slightly curved, with a pleasant aroma, reddish, later turning yellow; bloom in April. The root system is deep (unlike most species of willows, which have a superficial root system). Well tolerated. Winter-hardy, wind-resistant. In nature, purple willow is found in central Europe and northern Central Asia.

Holly willow, or red-faced, or willow (S. acutifolia). Shrub or tree up to 8 m tall with an oval crown. The shoots are purple-red, flexible, with a bluish bloom. The leaves of willow are long, linear-lanceolate, pointed; dark green above, shiny, bluish below. Norway willow is one of the most undemanding species of willow in terms of growing conditions. Holly willow propagates by cuttings or twigs. Krasnotal is frost-resistant.

Eared willow (S. aurita). Wide, slow-growing shrub from 0.5 to 2 m in height and width. The shoots are curving or horizontally spread, not dense. The leaves of eared willow are obovate, dull green above, bluish-green below, pubescent; become pale yellow in autumn. The root system is superficial. Winter-hardy and wind-resistant.

Ash willow (S. cinerea). Wide, semicircular, dense, large, fast-growing shrub from 3 to 5 m in height and width. The shoots are vertically growing, the side shoots are prostrate, partly hanging down to the ground. The leaves of the ashy willow are large, ovate, silky, bluish-green, do not change color in the fall, and fall in November. The flowers are elegant, silvery, later yellow with a sweet aroma, bloom in March-April. The root system of willow ash is superficial and powerful. Very frost-resistant, wind-resistant. Ash willow is found in nature in Central Europe.

Willow five-stamen , or blackened (S. pentandra). Tree or shrub up to 12 m tall with a rounded, dense crown. The leaves of willow five-stamen are narrowly ovate, pointed, long, leathery, dark green above, shiny, yellowish-green below. It blooms later than other types of willows - at the end of May. Gray fluffy catkins on female plants persist throughout the winter. Grows slowly; the plant is frost-resistant. In nature, five-stamen willow grows throughout the European part of Russia, in Western Siberia.

Babylonian willow (S. babilonica). A tree up to 15 m tall, distinguished by a very beautiful, large, weeping crown up to 10 m wide. The branches of this species of willow are hanging, flexible, yellowish-green, shiny. The leaves of the Babylonian willow are narrow-lanceolate, long, pointed, green above, shiny, bluish below. Babylonian willow grows quickly and is undemanding to growing conditions. The homeland of Babylonian willow is Central and Northern China.

Rosemary willow (S. rosmarinifolia). Wide semi-dwarf shrub from 1 to 1.5 (2) m tall and wide. The side shoots are initially vertically growing, later arched. Rosemary willow grows slowly. The leaves are linear-lanceolate, pale green above, white below, pubescent (fall in November). Willow begins to bloom in April; the flowers are yellow and fragrant. Frost-resistant, undemanding, wind-resistant. In nature, the plant is found in Europe, Central and Central Asia.

alpine willow (S. alpina). Dwarf willow with erect, densely leafy branches. Leaves are obovate. Alpine willow is unpretentious and grows on any substrate (in nature it grows on calcareous soils). In order for the plant to maintain a compact shape, it must be trimmed. Naturally, alpine willow grows in the highlands of Central and Southern Europe.

creeping willow (S. repens argentea). A prostrate shrub less than 1 m high. The leaves are elliptical, silky, up to 2 cm long. Often grafted on a standard.

Growing conditions

Willows are light-loving and develop better in the sun, but some willows are shade-tolerant (goat willow, for example). Willows grow on different, not very fertile soils.

White willow prefers fresh or moist, fertile soils.

Goat willow grows well in sun or partial shade, is wind-resistant and winter-hardy, but can be sensitive to spring frosts. Goat willow grows in fresh, loamy soils; on light soils it drops its leaves earlier. High lime content in the soil should not be allowed.

Brittle willow grows in sun or partial shade, prefers fresh or moist substrates, from acidic to slightly alkaline; sandy loam, deep, with a small lime content. Purple willow grows in sun or partial shade (it tolerates shade better than other willows). This type of willow is undemanding to soil and grows on different substrates - from relatively dry to moist, from neutral to very alkaline.

Holly willow (willow) grows even on poor, sandy soils.

Eared willow grows in sun and partial shade and prefers cool, damp places. Eared willow grows on any fertile substrate with a small lime content.

Ash willow grows in sun and partial shade and loves cool places. Ash willow prefers acidic, moderately fertile substrates, from moist to damp, and does not like lime.

Rosemary willow prefers sun and grows on any substrate from moderately dry to moist.

The following types of willow tolerate flooding well: white willow, brittle willow, purple willow, five-stamen willow, and ashen willow.

Goat willow and holly willow do not tolerate flooding.

Application

Willow cuttings and willow seedlings can be purchased at a garden center or ordered online.

Diseases and pests

Willow is a resistant plant, rarely affected by diseases and pests.

Popular varieties

Forms and varieties of white willow

'Argentea'. Large tree up to 25 m tall. The leaves are shiny, first silvery, then dark green; in autumn - yellow. Numerous flowers bloom early in spring.

'Coerulea'. Large variety of willow (up to 20 m tall). The leaves are bluish-green above, lighter below.

'Limpde'. A large tree up to 40 m tall with a wide (up to 12 m) narrowly conical crown. The shoots are yellowish, later light brown. The leaves are lanceolate, long, green. Willow ‘Limpde’ flowers bloom in April-May. The plant prefers moist alkaline soils, is light-loving, frost-resistant, grows quickly, and does not tolerate waterlogged soils.

'Tristis'. A fast-growing tree from 15 to 20 m tall and 15 m wide with a wide, weeping, very decorative crown. The branches of willow ‘Tristis’ are yellowish. The leaves are shiny, green, later lighter, bluish below. The flowers are yellow, with a pleasant aroma. Willow ‘Tristis’ grows in sun or partial shade, in fresh or moist, fertile, alkaline soils. It is possible to grow this variety of willow on clay substrates or soils with excess moisture. Willow ‘Tristis’ is winter-hardy, but young plants freeze over in cold winters. It is better to replant the plant in the spring before the buds open.

'Sericea'. A tree about 10 m high with a rounded crown and silvery leaves. It grows slowly.

Forms and varieties of goat willow

'Mas'. A large shrub or small tree from 5 to 8 m tall and from 3 to 6 m wide with a rounded crown and outstretched branches. The numerous, pleasantly fragrant flowers of the willow ‘Mas’ bloom in April (first silvery, then yellow).

'Pendula'. A small tree 1.5 to 2 or 3 m tall and 1.5 to 2 m wide. The crown is bell-shaped or umbrella-shaped, the branches hang down strongly. Weeping willow ‘Pendula’ blooms in April, the flowers are numerous, silvery, then yellow, with a pleasant aroma. Weeping goat willow needs to be pruned; without shaping it will not look nice. Goat willow ‘Pendula’ is propagating.

'Silberglanz'. A large shrub (rarely a tree) from 4 to 5 m tall and wide with outstretched branches. The flowers of this willow variety are large, silvery-yellow (April).

There are other varieties of goat willow (variations in leaf shape): variegated willow (variegata), broad-oval willow (orbiculata), round-leaved willow (rotundata), elliptical willow (elliptica).

Forms and varieties of purple willow

Forms and varieties of creeping willow

'Argentea'. A very decorative free-growing dwarf shrub from 0.3 to 0.5 m tall and up to 1 m wide. The leaves are elliptical or oval, small, white when blooming, with silky, silvery, shiny pubescence, later grayish; pale yellow in autumn. The flowers are first silvery, then yellow (bloom in late April-early May). The shoots of creeping willow ‘Argentea’ are thin, elastic, gray, pubescent, and later black. The plant prefers sun, cool, damp places. Creeping willow ‘Argentea’ is usually winter-hardy and does not tolerate dryness and high temperatures; wind resistant. Soils creeping willow ‘Argentea’ prefers fresh or moist, acidified to alkaline, rich in humus, sandy or sandy loam; creeping willow will not grow on heavy soils.