WILLOW * SALIX

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• Deciduous trees planted for the foliage, shade and screens.
   
• Widely spread in the northern hemisphere and a few in the southern hemisphere. about 300 species andspecies-like hybrids. No native species are reported in New Zealand and Australia.
   
• In temperate regions, they are mostly plants of water-courses, shores, and swamps, but a good number run into the far North and the high elevations where conditions of moisture are maintained.
   
• Artificial hybrids have also been made between many species. Upward of one hundred hybrid willows have been described as growing in Europe. Although as many or even more species occur in America, fewer hybrids have been detected here. The hybrids described as growing in America are for the most part between native species and those introduced from Europe.
   
• The role that the willow plays in the north temperate regions is to a certain extent analogous to that of the eucalyptus in subtropical regions; it flourishes in wet ground and absorbs and transpires immense quantities of water. While most of the species occur spontaneously in wet ground or along stream-banks, the willows may be cultivated in various situations.
   
• The arctic species are among the most diminutive of woody plants. As one goes south the species increase in size. Some of the species of North Temperate, Tropical and South Temperate zones are large trees.
   
• As ornamental trees the willows present little variety. The weeping forms are very popular.
   
• Grows to 30 ft.