Black Willow
Salix nigra
- Plant Type
- Tree (Deciduous)
- Landscape Layer
- Canopy
- Sun
- ☀️ Full Sun, ⛅ Part Sun, ☁️ Shade
- Moisture
- 💧 Regular, 💧💧 High, 💧💧💧 Wet
- Soil
- Clay, Loam, Sand, Silt, Organic / Peat
- Bloom
- April
- Sociability
- S2 – Small groups
Pollinator Value
- 🔑 Keystone
- Salix is a keystone genus supporting 415 species of butterflies and moths in the Algonquin/Southern Laurentians ecoregion. Black willow provides critical early-spring pollen and nectar when few other food sources are available, sustaining 14 specialist bee species (genus-level oligoleges). The genus ranks among the top host plant genera for Lepidoptera in eastern North America.
- 🐛 Larval Host
- Euparthenos nubilis, Furcula scolopendrina, Furcula borealis, Haploa clymene, Polygonia faunus, Hypercompe scribonia, Limenitis archippus, Nymphalis antiopa, Paonias myops, Orgyia definita, Acronicta interrupta, Sphinx gordius, Synchlora aerata, Hyles lineata, Limenitis arthemis
- 🐝 Specialist Bee Host
- Andrena andrenoides, Andrena bisalicis, Andrena clarkella, Andrena erythrogaster, Andrena frigida, Andrena illinoiensis, Andrena macoupinensis, Andrena mariae, Andrena nida, Andrena nigrae, Andrena salictaria, Andrena sigmundi, Andrena wellesleyana, Perdita maculigera
S17 14 Salix pollen specialists in Eastern NA
- ❄️ Winter Food Source
- Willow buds and catkins are consumed by Ruffed Grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Pine Grosbeak, and Common Redpoll through winter months. Ptarmigan species (Rock, Willow, White-tailed) rely heavily on Salix buds as a primary winter food source, comprising up to 70% of diet by volume. American Beaver uses bark and branches year-round; Cottontail Rabbit and Meadow Vole browse bark and twigs in winter.
S57 Ruffed Grouse, Pine Grosbeak, Common Redpoll, ptarmigan spp.; S10 beaver, vole, rabbit
Ecology & Conservation
- Proximity Score
- 0
- Native Status
- ✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
- Closest Direction
- Local
- CEC Eco-Regions
- 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
- Rarity Notes
- Apparently Secure (S4) in both Ontario and Quebec. Globally ranked G5 and assessed as Least Concern by IUCN. Not listed under SARA or assessed by COSEWIC. Uncommon in the Ottawa area according to Brunton (2005), likely limited by availability of suitable floodplain habitat.
S22 G5, S4 ON/QC; S26 not SARA listed; S62 Uncommon in Ottawa
- Rarity Ranks
- QC S4 – Apparently Secure, ON S4 – Apparently Secure
- Migration
- Stable
- Ecological Context
- Black willow is the dominant pioneer tree of floodplains, riverbanks, and alluvial deposits throughout eastern North America. In the Ottawa River valley it colonizes exposed sandbars and low-lying riparian zones, often forming dense, even-aged stands along watercourses. It is strictly an obligate wetland species (OBL), rarely found away from permanent or seasonal inundation. The species stabilizes eroding banks with its extensive shallow root network.
S41 pioneer floodplain tree; S10 riparian specialist; S61 floodplains, riversides; S62 Uncommon in Ottawa
Permaculture & Companion Planting
- Roles
- Erosion Control, Fortress/Barrier, Nutrient Accumulator, Pollinator Attractor, Water Purifier
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Erosion Control: S61 keyword match: erosion (supporting signal only)] | Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Nutrient Accumulator: S72 Hemenway (tables: 5-3, 6-2, pp. 82, 96)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 16 bee associations (threshold=3)] | Water Purifier: S72 Hemenway (tables: 5-3, 6-2, pp. 82, 96)]
- Notes
- Functions as a canopy-layer nutrient accumulator (Ca, Mg) and water purifier in riparian guild designs. Its dense shallow root network stabilizes streambanks while improving water quality. Early-spring bloom provides critical pollinator resources when few other trees are flowering. Best suited to wet-site or bioretention plantings where its aggressive roots and short lifespan are assets rather than liabilities.
S72 nutrient accumulator Ca, Mg; S29 erosion control, dynamic accumulator; S41 soil stabilization
Medicinal Properties ℹ
Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.
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ℹ
Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.
Click here for more info →- Category
- Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antiperiodic, Antiseptic, Astringent, Dermatological Aid, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Febrifuge, Sedative, Tonic
S29 anodyne/anti-inflammatory/antiseptic/astringent/diaphoretic/diuretic/febrifuge/hypnotic/sedative/tonic; S28 Cherokee/Houma/Iroquois/Koasati/Micmac uses
- Notes
- Bark contains salicin, a natural glucoside closely related to aspirin (salicylic acid), isolated from willow in 1829. Cherokee used bark infusions for fever and as a tonic; Houma used root and bark decoctions for fever and blood weakness; Iroquois used compound decoctions for coughs and stomach gas; Koasati used root infusions for headaches and fevers; Mi'kmaq applied leaf and root poultices for sprains and bruises. Bark harvested in summer and dried for later use.
S28 22 ethnobotanical uses across 5 nations; S29 salicin; S41 aspirin connection
Edibility & Foraging ℹ
Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.
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ℹ
Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.
Click here for more info →❌ Not Edible
Seed Source
- Blue Sea