{"product_id":"black-willow-tree","title":"Black Willow Tree","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlack Willow\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eSalix nigra\u003c\/em\u003e), also known as Swamp Willow or Southwestern Black Willow, is a powerful native powerhouse that brings unmatched ecological value and structural utility to your landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"13,1\"\u003eAs North America's largest native willow, this fast-growing, water-loving tree is a natural marvel of streambanks, floodplains, and pond edges. Typically reaching 30 to 60 feet in cultivation, it produces cheerful yellow-green catkins in early spring and rapidly anchors wet, shifting soils with a dense, fibrous root system—all while supporting an extraordinary range of local wildlife.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"padding-left: 20px; list-style-position: outside;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKeystone Wildlife Superstar:\u003c\/strong\u003e Willows support more caterpillar species than almost any other woody plant! This tree is a critical larval host for iconic butterflies like the Viceroy, Mourning Cloak, Red-Spotted Purple, and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEarly-Spring Pollen:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yellow-green catkins open before most plants bloom, feeding bees and other pollinators when little else is available.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThrives in Wet Ground:\u003c\/strong\u003e At home in rain gardens, low spots, and floodplains, this tree effortlessly tolerates prolonged standing water and saturated soils where other trees drown.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast Erosion Control:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rapid growth and a spreading root system stabilize banks and difficult wet sites quickly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRich Botanical History:\u003c\/strong\u003e The bark of the Black Willow contains salicin—a natural compound used for centuries by Native Americans for pain relief, which later became the blueprint for modern aspirin.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife Cover \u0026amp; Browse:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dense foliage shelters nesting birds while twigs and buds feed deer, beaver, and small mammals.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEco-Friendly:\u003c\/strong\u003e Grown non-GMO and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/content.gardenforwildlife.com\/learn\/neonicotinoids-kill-butterflies-thats-why-we-dont-use-them\"\u003eneonicotinoid-free\u003c\/a\u003e to ensure a healthy ecosystem for your local wildlife.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tree ships in a one gallon container with a robust, established root system, promoting quick establishment and growth after planting. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy Choose Black Willow?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"13,6\"\u003eBlack Willow is nature’s ultimate bio-engineer, pairing rapid growth with monumental ecological benefits. If you have a challenging, perpetually wet area or a shoreline losing ground to erosion, this tree acts as a living anchor. As a keystone \u003ci data-index-in-node=\"244\" data-path-to-node=\"13,6\"\u003eSalix\u003c\/i\u003e species, it functions as a bustling wildlife timeshare—providing dense nesting cover for songbirds, feeding hungry pollinators in March, and hosting hundreds of species of beneficial insects that keep your local birds fed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting Tips:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col style=\"padding-left: 20px; list-style-position: outside;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLocation: \u003c\/strong\u003eThrives in full sun to part shade. Perfect for dedicated rain gardens, retention ponds, and low, soggy areas. \u003ci data-index-in-node=\"120\" data-path-to-node=\"13,8,0,0\"\u003eNote: Due to its highly effective, water-seeking root system, plant Black Willow at least 50 feet away from septic systems, underground water lines, and home foundations.\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatering:\u003c\/strong\u003e Prefers consistently moist to wet ground. Keep thoroughly watered during its first year; once established, it will happily drink up excess backyard water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaintenance: \u003c\/strong\u003eExtremely low-maintenance. If needed, prune in late winter or very early spring to shape or remove any storm-damaged branches.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor more information on planting, view our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/content.gardenforwildlife.com\/learn\/how-to-plant-your-native-plants\"\u003eHow to Plant Your Native Plants\u003c\/a\u003e guide and other \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/content.gardenforwildlife.com\/learn\/tag\/planting-tips\"\u003eplanting tips\u003c\/a\u003e in the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/content.gardenforwildlife.com\/learn\"\u003eGarden for Wildlife Learning Center\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTransform your landscape's wettest spots into a thriving wildlife sanctuary with Black Willow—a fast-growing, keystone native that jumps into action every spring to support pollinators, birds, and butterflies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-path-to-node=\"14\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Garden for Wildlife","offers":[{"title":"1-Pack","offer_id":54347254038894,"sku":"GFW-ECOM-COL-BLCWILLOW-1GAL-1","price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"2-Pack","offer_id":54347254071662,"sku":"GFW-ECOM-COL-BLCWILLOW-1GAL-2","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"4-Pack","offer_id":54347254104430,"sku":"GFW-ECOM-COL-BLCWILLOW-1GAL-4","price":205.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0521\/4047\/4568\/files\/BlackWillow_Salixnigra_7.png?v=1784311475","url":"https:\/\/gardenforwildlife.com\/products\/black-willow-tree","provider":"Garden for Wildlife","version":"1.0","type":"link"}