Dive in to identify the description, benefits, condition requirements, and the different types of willow trees with pictures.

The Purple Weeping Willow Tree and the Weeping Willow Tree Guide

There are over 350 species of willow trees in the salix genus.

Typically, the willow trees and salix babylonica are subspecies of weeping willows.¹

Types of Willow Trees (Salix Purpurea Nana) With Pictures

Willow is a deciduous tree growing 30 to 80 feet tall. The spread of its graceful arching branches ranges from 20 to 30 feet.

Here is a list of some of the types of Purple Weeping Willow trees.

Babylonica has an aggressive root that intrudes, causing bumps in the ground. It is advisable to plant it 50 feet away from your home or near water bodies.

This willow species is native and is mostly found in Poland, Europe, and the Baltic states. The primary purpose of salix purpurea is to control erosion along rivers and streams.

It has a spread of 20 feet or more and is the fastest-growing tree, with beautiful yellow leaves during fall.

Salix matsudana has salicylic characteristics thus, being used for traditional medicines to relieve fevers and pain.

This willow species has a small but rapid growth; that being the case, they live for over 100 years,² but despite the fact, they tend to split and crack due to their weight. Salix fragilis can be used for weaving.

The leaves are usually oval or round, dark green with a paler and silver-haired underneath the surface. They tend to be red-brown or brighter green, depending on certain environments. Arctic willow has a bright yellow male catkins flower and red-pink or purple female catkins.

Salix Purpurea Nana Care Guide: Purple Weeping Willow Tree Guide

You may think about planting the purple willow to add value to your property. But how do you care for this tree? Here is the Salix purpurea Nana care guide:

Condition Requirement

The purple willow is adaptable, hardy, and can tolerate various conditions. The table below summarizes the ecological requirements of this tree:

Germination and Seed Care

Unlike other trees’ seeds, the pillow willow tree seeds have no dormancy duration that needs to be broken. Generally, these seeds germinate within 12 to 24 hours after falling on moist soil. Thus, you only need to maintain a moist medium soil to facilitate their germination.

Additionally, you can keep the seedlings under a shade to facilitate moist medium germination. Later, you can transplant the seedling after attaining a height of 6 inches. It is safe to transplant these seedlings in early spring after the danger of frost has elapsed.

Planting

Young purple willow requires a relative level of care. However, mature trees are relatively easy to grow and maintain. To plant this tree, you can purchase ready seedlings or prepare some by cutting or layering.

Water

The purple willow is highly adapted to moist conditions— this tree’s leaves turn yellow and branches wither when it falls short of water. Generally, you should water these new plants and seedlings on a daily basis during summer.

Nonetheless, mature Salix purpurea Nana is highly drought-resistant. However, you should water these plants daily in dry soils. There is no need to water this tree regularly during rainy season.

Fertilizer

You can apply a light fertilizer to Salix purpurea Nana 4 or 5 times of its early growth stage. A nitrogeneous fertilizer such as carbamide or ammonium sulphate is highly recommended during the growth period.

Typically, mature plants do not require high amounts of fertilizer but you can apply some potassic fertilizer such as plant ash and calcium phosphate.

Pruning

The purple willow prefers suitable conditions for fast growth. Trimming its side, dead, and residual branches promote light transmittance, air permeability, and prevents a hiding place for insect pests and diseases.

Also, young willows should have one branch and can be pruned continuously to promote growth in a thick upward direction.

Harvest

The Salix purpurea Nana has soft wood and slender branches that are easily weaved into crates, bags, baskets, safety helmets, and furniture. Also, its bark has tannin which is widely used for medicinal and industrial products. Further, its leaves and young shoots are widely used for feeding tussah or livestock.

Purple Weeping Willow Tree: How Can I Solve Root Damage to the Ground Caused By My Purple Willow?

The purple willow has invasive roots that can stretch up to thrice the length its trunk to crown. Thus, these roots can extend to the ground surface and trigger cracks and lawns in terraces and sidewalks. Also, they can cause serious damage to pipelines and sewage pipes.

You will therefore be required to cut off offending roots to prevent them from spreading across the same direction. Generally, you should dig a wide pit when plating this tree to prevent possible damage in the ground. Also, you should avoid applying fertilizer into the hole as it will make the roots grow around rather than allowing them to spread.

How Is the Problem of Fragile Wood and Damaged Branches Solved?

Similar to other fast-growing trees, the purple willow has delicate wood, especially when growing in cold winters, strong winds, and ice storm areas. Nonetheless, you can easily mitigate this problem by trimming this tree annually to remove vertically-growing branches and damaged and dead wood.

This tree’s long whip-shaped branches easily break due to strong winds and produce excess leaves and therefore require proper trimming.

Australian Willow Tree Facts

Australian willow, also known as Geijera parviflora, is native to Australia. The medium-sized tree combines the eucalyptus’s toughness and the willow tree’s gracefulness. It is popular along the streets of many cities thanks to its minimal litter and non-invasive deep roots.

This evergreen tree is moderately tolerant to drought, making it good for warmer climates. Although the plant is not mostly affected by pests and diseases, the root rots may be a problem if the soil does not drain well.

Weeping Willow Tree Varieties With Pictures

There are many types of weeping willow trees, including dwarf, creeping shrubs, and the desert willow tree. All willow trees thrive in boggy and wet soil, while other species do well in dry soil.

Weeping willows are popular landscape garden trees because of their adorned shape and elegance.

Here are the different types of weeping willow trees you can easily find across the world today:

It is advisable to attach a pole so that it has something to lean on when encouraging vertical growth. The soil needs to be rich, acidic, well-drained, and sandy, not forgetting its full exposure to sunlight for its growth.

The pink five-petaled single to double flowers that fall in spring serve as pollinators’ early food source. Full sun exposure and moist, well-drained fertile soil are what the plant needs.

The growing zone is usually 2 to 9 depending on the variety. Full exposure to the sun and well-drained deep fertile soil are needed.

The trees can cross-pollinate with apples, allowing the process to happen without creating an overflow of fruits for those that desire one apple tree.

Acidic, well-drained loamy soil and full exposure to the sun is important. The growth zone is 4 to 8, depending on the variety.

Willow Tree Alaska

Salix alaxensis is its species name. Apart from being commonly known as willow tree Alaska, it is also known as felt leaf willow. It is native to northern North America and occurs through northwestern Canada and Alaska. The plant requires well-drained, moist, slightly acidic soil and full exposure to the sun for it to grow well.

Osier Willow

Salix viminalis is a species name for osier willow. It is native to the Himalayas, Europe, and Western Asia. Commonly found in streams and other wet places. The flower appears in early spring or late winter before the leaves. Osier catkins provide early pollen and nectar for bees, butterflies, and moths.

Amount of Carbon Purple Willow Tree Sequesters

The process of storing and capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide is known as carbon sequestration; the process is important as its goal is to reduce global climate change. The amount of carbon in a tree depends on its age, size, and other factors like where it is growing and its species.³

Shrub willow sequesters carbon below the ground as they provide large sinks; the study shows this after shifting the shrub willow from a low–carbon bioenergy source to the one sequestering the carbon. Follow the procedure for tree calculation.

Below is a graph showing the carbon sequestration of willow and poplar.

Facts About American Chestnut Trees

Chestnuts are deciduous trees belonging to the fungaceae family, closely related to beeches and oaks.

1. Chestnuts can live up to 800 years in the wild, depending on the species.
2. The high amount of tannins it contains makes it possible to be used for tanning leather.
3. It can be consumed raw; the dried chestnut can be ground to be used as flour.
4. In the cosmetic industries, leaves and husks are used to produce shampoo.
5. This monoecious plant only appears during spring and summer.
6. Chestnut releases oxygen during photosynthesis and stores a sixth of carbon emitted every year⁴

How To Care for Dogwood Trees

The four-season appeal and modest size of a dogwood tree makes it a favorite ornamental tree for most homeowners. The scientific name for the plant is Cornus florida; it grows to a height of 30 to 40 feet, exploding with pink bracts pivoted with small clusters of yellow flowers in spring.

Light green leaves are seen in the summer, and the foliage finally turns deep red before falling in autumn. A well drained site that does not get extremely dry is required for the plant to grow. Dogwood takes a period of four seasons to bloom and usually has a lifespan of 80 years.⁵

Pests and Diseases

The following are the common pests and diseases invading the purple willow tree:

Powdery Mildew

This is an unsightly fungal infection; although it does not normally kill the tree, it weakens it until another pest comes along and finally kills it.⁶ It is most common in shady and dense areas with poor air circulation. The disease develops during dry, cool, warm, and damp days.

Treatment and Prevention

Powdery mildew of terrain mostly occurs late in the summer and may warrant fungicides used. In cases of severe diseases, be certain to use spray equipment that provides good coverage, not forgetting the volubility of the dogwood specimen.

The first line of defense should be cultural control. Destroy and rank up all fallen trees, prune out infected branches and dead twigs. Also, remove crowding vegetation and overhanging branches for air circulation and penetration of sunlight around the tree.

Cercospora and Septoria Leaf Spots

Cercospora and septoria species cause diseases in the leaf. The disease numerously occurs in the summer months, heavily spotting the leaves and may result in early shedding.

Light shedding has minimal impact on the health of the dogwood tree; the continuous shedding of the leaves over the years may weaken the tree.

Treatment and Prevention

Since the fungi mostly survive the winter in the ground, dispose of and clean infected fallen leaves. Spray fungicides containing mancozeb, chlorothalonil, or thiophanate- methyl for severe infections.

Dogwood Borer

Synanthedon scitula is a scientific name for dogwood borer; the disease establishes when they locate an opening in the bark of a tree. They feed in the inner bark destroying the cambium, and eventually, the tree dies. Large established trees that are infested lack vigor and have large branches, and knotty areas on the trunk which become rough.

Treatment and Control

Protect the tree from wounding and keep the trees healthy by mulching, watering, and fertilizing.

Dogwood Anthracnose

Dogwood anthracnose, also known as discula anthracnose, is a new disease in south California. They appear as spots in the flower bracts and leaves. The disease eventually spreads to the main branches and shoots and causes cankers ( sunken brown areas ). Multiple cankers kill the tree.

Prevention and Treatment

Planting resistant plant species like Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) and cultivars is an excellent option to manage the disease in the landscape.

The control might be effective if the disease is detected before it spreads.

Dispose of dead twigs and limbs during hot and summer seasons. Remove crowding vegetation and understory plants to improve sunlight penetration and air circulation.

When consistently applied, nitrogen fertilizers succulent new shoots. Ensure to follow recommended cultural practices to maintain a healthy dogwood.

Other Uncommon Pests or Diseases

The following are other uncommon pests or diseases affecting the purple willow tree that may also require your attention:

• Leafhoppers
• Black Canker
• Japanese Beetles
• Willow Sawflies
• Black Willow Aphids
• Crown Gall
• Black Willow Aphids

Fungicides and Insecticides to Control Dogwood Pests and Diseases

RTS = Ready To Spray

You might have been confusing the purple willow tree for other trees. Thankfully, this post has comprehensively discussed this tree alongside its uses, benefits, and care guide.

You can now use this purple weeping willow tree guide that has included the growing zones and all 13 types (Salix Purpurea Nana) to determine how best you can use this tree for its incredible benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions About Purple Weeping Willow Tree