Black Willow
Salix nigra
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Salicaceae
- Genus:
- Salix
- Species:
- Salix nigra
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- More than 40 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- feb, mar, apr, may, jun, jul
- Bloom Colors:
- Yellow
Native Range
United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
- Bee Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of native bee species using this genus for pollen and nectar (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Reported Fauna Sightings
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, nutrient-rich alluvial soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found along riverbanks and floodplains
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Cuttings are stuck to a depth of 10 cm in a 2:1:1 peat:perlite:vermiculite mixture. A controlled release fertilizer 14-14-14 (N-P-K) 3 -4 month is incorporated into the media at the rate of 4 kg/m3. Cuttings are watered and kept moist throughout the rooting period using an intermittent misting schedule.
Establishment: Stem cuttings are taken from dormant trees grown in the Mora River Valley in north central New Mexico. Cuttings are sealed in polybags to prevent desiccation, and brought to the nursery on ice in coolers. Cuttings are then placed in a walk-in cooler (2 - 4°C) for storage. The earlier the cuttings are taken (late February through March) the longer the cuttings can be stored before bud burst occurs during storage. Once bud burst occurs, rooting success drops quickly.
Source: npn.rngr.net