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Golden Weeping Willow

Salix alba (SEE-liks AL-ba TRIS-tis)

Family: Salicaceae Non-native Canopy (>40 ft)

Golden Weeping Willow is a cultivar with bright yellow twigs and an attractive weeping form. Brought to the US from its native locations, it has taken off and has naturalized in many US locations. It is considered to be the top choice when looking for a weeping willow for the home landscape. Its golden weeping form makes an excellent specimen tree. Grow in full sun while avoiding dry soil. Maintenance can be time-consuming. Breakage of the weak wood and branch structure, spreading roots, and leaf litter can make this tree high maintenance. Ice and snow can also damage the branches. Caution should be used when locating this tree as its shallow, invasive root system can create havoc on your sewer and water pipes. However, it may grow in somewhat wet areas where other species will not grow. Prune late winter into early spring. Willows are one of the first plants to leaf out in the springtime. This is a dioecious species, having both male and female plants. Blooms appear on both the male and female trees in late spring. The flowers of the male are tiny and have yellowish anthers and two stamens. These male blooms can be quite showy. The female flowers are green in color, smaller than the male, and not showy. Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Powdery mildew, blights, leaf spot are diseases affecting this tree. Aphids, scale, borers, lace bugs, and caterpillars are insects to watch for. More information on Salix .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 50 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 1 - Canopy (>40 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Platanus x acerifolia Salix babylonica Ulmus rubra

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Tree
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
24-60 feet
Mature size
Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in. | Width: 50 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Open; Rounded; Weeping
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The 4" leaves are gray-green on top and a white on the underside. The fall colors may be showy.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Green
Flower form
Catkin; Insignificant
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Fruits are a two-valved capsule.
Bark color
Dark Brown
Bark detail
The bark is a yellow-brown in color.
Stem color
Gold/Yellow
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe, central Asia and northern Africa.
Wildlife value
Attracts birds and insect pollinators.
Play value
Attracts Pollinators; Textural
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Pond; Riparian
Landscape theme
Rain Garden; Water Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Accent; Flowering Tree; Specimen
Garden tags
#yellow stems #large tree #weeping #messy #weak wood #erosion control #rain garden #winter interest #high maintenance #wet soils tolerant #black walnut toxicity tolerant #clay soils tolerant #deciduous tree #deciduous #frequent disease problems #frequent insect problems
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Caterpillars That Feed on Trees and Shrubs; Imported Willow Leaf Beetle; Giant Willow Aphid; Willow Bladdergall Mite
Other problems
Wind Damage
Problems
Frequent Disease Problems; Frequent Insect Problems; Messy; Weak Wood
Resistant to
Black Walnut; Deer; Erosion; Wet Soil
Propagation
Stem Cutting

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.