ENCHANTING NATIVE TREE WITH ELEGANT FOLIAGE
FEATURES:
May Benefit & Attract: chickadees & titmice, sparrows, wood warblers, thrushes, wrens, woodpeckers, mockingbirds & thrashers, crows & jays, waxwings, vireos, cardinals & grosbeaks, nuthatches, orioles
- Shiny, dark-green leaves change yellow, orange and red in fall
- Lime-green catkins bloom in spring, adding bright color
- Fast-growing, low-maintenance
- This bird-friendly native plant provides food and shelter for local and migrating birds and other wildlife
- All Audubon® branded trees and plants are grown 100% Neonic-free by Bower & Branch, making these plants safer for the birds and safer for the environment
- The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow
- Hand Selected, Fresh from the Grower
- Ships in a plant-safe designed box
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 3-8
- Mature Height: 30-60' tall
- Mature Width: 30-60' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun/Part Shade
- Spacing: 30-60' apart
Why plant Audubon® Native Black Willow Treeling?
Black Willow brings in the birds! If your property is home to a pond, creek, marsh, or even just a low spot that never dries out, consider planting a Black Willow to give neighborhood birds some sustenance. This fast-growing, moisture-loving tree is a bird food factory, hosting an incredible array of caterpillars and other avian favorites, such as beetles, aphids, and leafhoppers. These morsels supply valuable protein to songbirds and their rapidly growing nestlings. Attracted to the steady source of high-quality food, some birds may even nest in the branches and raise their families there!
A pioneer tree, Black Willow frequently appears on wet, sunny sites whenever bare soil is exposed. It quickly takes root, stabilizing riverbanks and providing wonderful wildlife habitat. This tree has held a variety of roles in human history. The lightweight wood does not make great lumber for building, but it has been used in manufacturing crates, wicker baskets, and artificial limbs. It has also been used to make charcoal for both gunpowder and artists’ pencils. Black Willow grows naturally all over the eastern United States and in scattered spots in the Southwest.
How to use Audubon® Native Black Willow Treeling in the landscape?
Black Willow is a magnificent butterfly tree! If they escape the birds, some of the caterpillars that feed on its foliage will become beautiful butterflies. Your tree may be a host to viceroys, red spotted purples, Lorquin’s admirals, mourning cloaks, and green commas. Some really stunning moths may make it to adulthood on your tree, too, such as the cecropia, the twin-spotted sphinx, and the big poplar sphinx.
Audubon® Native Plants & Trees
Audubon is devoted to protecting birds and the places they need, while Bower & Branch is devoted to the growth of true native trees and plants–no cultivars or hybrids. Together, we strive to unite communities in conservation and inspire individuals to cultivate a better world for birds starting in their own backyards, balconies, or patios. By guiding and recommending trees and plants truly native and beneficial to your region, we can really start to make a difference.
What is the definition of Native?
“In the United States, a native plant is defined as one that was naturally found in a particular area before European colonization. Native plants are the foundation of a region’s biodiversity, providing essential food sources and shelter for birds, especially those threatened by the changing climate. Since native plants are adapted to local precipitation and soil conditions, they generally require less upkeep, therefore helping the environment and saving you time, water, and money.” – The National Audubon Society
Learn how you can help birds in your home and community through Audubon’s Plants for Birds program.
Audubon® is a licensed and registered trademark of the National Audubon Society. All rights reserved.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 3-8
How To Plant Audubon® Native Black Willow Treeling
Full sun and damp soil are the major requirements for Black Willow. This tree should be planted well away from manicured areas, as it has a tendency to drop limbs in high winds and ice storms. The root system is vigorous, so keep it away from any underground plumbing as well. Black Willow is a fast-growing but often short-lived tree (it has a lifespan of about 50 years). In that time, however, it can become quite large. The national record holder, in Minnesota, is 91 feet tall and has a trunk that’s over eight feet thick! Give it plenty of room.
How To Water
Water twice weekly for the first 3-5 weeks; then water weekly for the remainder of the year until winter. When you water, water very slowly and very thoroughly. The water needs to reach to the bottom of the root ball and that takes time. Watering needs may be altered due to extreme weather conditions.
How To Fertilize
Incorporate Elements Starter Plant Food granular form into the soil when planting. If planting in spring or summer, start fertilizing late fall using Elements Starter Plant Food granular form on an annual basis each fall. Continue this for the first three years to get your plant well established as it gives your tree the nutrients it needs to produce lush new growth for the following spring.
How To Prune
A young tree may need a little extra support to ensure that it lives a long and healthy life. Stake your new Treeling with a 6-8 foot tall wood or bamboo stake. Use expandable ties that will stretch as the tree grows, fastening the stake to the main trunk from the base to the top. Check the ties every few months, at least twice a year; ensuring the ties are not digging into the trunk. If there is any sign of this, take the tie off and reattach it, giving the tree more room to grow.
As your tree grows, remove a few of the lower branches each year in mid to late summer. Remove these lower branches before they reach 1/2 inch in diameter. It is better to make small cuts to avoid cutting a large, more mature branch - this is too stressful for the tree. Each year, make any corrective pruning needed, paying particular attention to removing damaged branches, rubbing branches, multiple leaders at the top, or suckers at the base. Limit any pruning to no more than 25% of the branching structure in a given year. Pruning benefits the tree and helps to achieve a balanced tree form.
After two or three years you can feel free to remove the stake from the tree.
Videos
How Does Shipping Work?
Size Small (AAA), Medium (A2A), and Large (AA) plants (our Treelings, Shrubs, Bushes, and Perennials) will be shipped directly to your home by a common carrier. Ships in a plant-safe designed box within 5-7 business days.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health.. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
Our Guarantees
90 DAY SATISFACTION GUARANTEE:
Bower & Branch guarantees customer satisfaction within all product groups and sizes. If for any reason you are not satisfied with the product or experience, you have 90 days from the original date of purchase to request a replacement of the purchased product(s).
How?
Reach out to a Plant Whisperer:
- Email: plantwhisperers@bowerandbranch.com - Phone: 866-873-3888 - Or via Online Chat
