Plant · GBIF taxon 5372854
black willow
Salix nigraAlso known as Swamp Willow, Gulf Black Willow
Black willow roots interlock tightly along riverbanks, stabilizing soil and preventing shoreline erosion during heavy seasonal floods. Its dark, deeply furrowed bark and long, slender leaves provide critical shelter and shade for aquatic ecosystems across North America. Fast-growing and moisture-loving, this pioneer species frequently colonizes newly exposed sandbars to establish dense wetland stands.
RiparianFast-GrowingNative Tree
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil Nutrients
Predators
- North American Beaver
- White-Tailed Deer
- Mourning Cloak Caterpillar
ThreatsSevere drought, river channelization, invasive plant competition
HabitatsRiverbanks, floodplains, wet meadows, lakeshores
Life span40 to 100 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderMalpighiales
- FamilySalicaceae
- GenusSalix
- SpeciesSalix nigra
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Bark Identification: Look for dark, deeply furrowed brown-to-black bark with thick interlocking ridges on mature trees.
- Spring Bloom: Watch for fuzzy yellowish-green catkins appearing alongside fresh green leaves in early spring.
Larval Host Pavel Kirillov from St.Petersburg, Russia / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Ecosystem Partner (c) Rodney Campbell, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony Rebelo · cc-by-sa
Family Member (c) Sandy Wolkenberg, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sandy Wolkenberg · cc-by
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