Trees🌿 Native to the NetherlandsVery hardy — tolerates frost down to -25°C

White Willow

Salix alba

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White Willow (Salix alba) is an originally native, fast-growing, deciduous tree found along riverbanks, floodplains, osier beds, swamp forests, ditch edges, and other moist to wet locations. The narrow, finely serrated leaves are initially silky-haired on both sides, giving the crown a silvery appearance from a distance. Old trees develop deeply furrowed bark and can form a broad, picturesque crown. White Willow is dioecious: male and female catkins grow on different trees. The catkins appear in April and May simultaneously with the leaves. After pollination, female trees form small capsules with light, hairy seeds. The species can be managed as a free-growing tree or as a pollard willow. Plant only where sufficient space and moisture are available and keep a generous distance from foundations, sewers, paving, and underground cables.

Year calendar

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
🌸Blooms
🐝Provides nectar
🍓Bears fruit
🍂Has autumn colour

Pruning period

A free-growing White Willow only requires formative pruning and the removal of dead or damaged branches. A pollard willow must be regularly recut at the same pollarding height. Have a neglected old pollard willow assessed by an expert.

Botanical profile

Site & soil

Sun, Half shade

Soil type: Clay, Sand, Loam

Moisture need: Moist, Wet / marshy

pH: Slightly acidic (5.5–6.5), Neutral (6.5–7.5), Chalky (>7.5)

Nutrient richness: Moderately nutrient-rich, Nutrient-rich

Humus content: Moderately humus-rich, Humus-rich

Water drainage: Well draining, Moisture-retentive, Poorly draining

Appearance & season

Mature height: 1000-2500cm

Bloom: Apr–May

Autumn colour: Yellow to yellowish-brown

Properties

Salt sensitive: Yes

Edible: No

Bark and leaves contain salicylates and are not suitable for use as food or home remedies without medical knowledge. Therefore, do not offer White Willow as an edible plant.

Scent: Slightly sweet. The small catkins do not spread a strong scent but do produce nectar that attracts various insects.

Ecological value

White Willow is among the most valuable native trees for insects. The early catkins provide nectar and pollen for honey bees, bumblebees, mining bees, hoverflies, and other insects. The leaves and young shoots are utilized by numerous caterpillars, sawflies, aphids, gall midges, and leaf beetles. Old pollard willows often develop cracks, cavities, and decaying wood where little owls, tits, bats, beetles, and other animals can live. Birds forage for insects among the branches and use the dense crown as a resting and nesting place. Moreover, the roots help hold moist banks together.

Food web & Biodiversity

🐛 Caterpillars & mothsExtremely useful

🐝 Bees & bumblebeesExtremely useful

🪰 HoverfliesExtremely useful

🦋 ButterfliesUseful

🪲 Beetles & insectsExtremely useful

🐦 BirdsExtremely useful

🐿️ MammalsUseful

🐞 Other animalsExtremely useful

White Willow is highly valuable for caterpillars and moths, as the leaves are used as a food plant by many species. The early catkins provide both nectar and pollen, making them very valuable for bees, bumblebees, and hoverflies. Birds benefit from the large quantity of insects and use the crown and any tree cavities as nesting and hiding places. Its value for butterflies is useful as some species use willows as a host plant or resting site. For beetles and other insects, White Willow is highly valuable due to the leaves, bark, wood, and eventually deadwood. Mammals use young twigs, bark, cover, and tree cavities, making this group consider it useful. Old trees and pollard willows also offer highly valuable habitat for bats, spiders, snails, mosses, lichens, and other organisms.

Distribution in the Netherlands