Graceful Giants of the Landscape: Why Willow Trees Matter
Few trees are as serene and poetic as the willow. It’s hard not to be drawn to that gently swaying silhouette. For this reason, the Willow Tree is a common choice for both naturalized areas as well as planned landscapes. We see it all the time at TN Nursery: willow trees as sentinels on properties across the country. It’s often found in gardens that have been set aside for native birds and pollinators.
In fact, while willows can be purely ornamental, we sell them as one of our bestsellers knowing that they are doing important work as part of the functional design of the habitat. Weeping Willow and Black Willow trees take root in the rich soils of the Eastern US and gain a foothold in moist, disturbed areas. They quickly encourage a return of native birds, amphibians and beneficial insects to a yard or property.
Native Black Willow (Salix nigra) in particular has deep roots in the ecology of the Eastern US landscape. Found naturally in lowland, wet areas, they can also grow where other trees cannot, stabilizing soil and providing shade and cover. Black Willows attract a variety of songbirds with their thickets and sturdy branches. In early spring, well before many flowers bloom, pollinators swarm around their fuzzy, yellow catkins.
Building a Willow-Focused Habitat With Native Companions
Willows are often the focal point or main tree of a given habitat. The best willow habitats start with the willow but build out with other native plants that thrive in moist soil and understory conditions.
TN Nursery recommends growing your willow trees with native perennials that are also moisture lovers such as Iris versicolor or Blue Flag Iris. This native iris has a robust, grass-like stem and striking purple-blue flowers that will provide a bold display beneath the willow’s branches. It’s a great way to provide layered, naturalistic texture in the landscape, and the pollen-rich blooms are a boon to native bees and butterflies.
Other good groundcovers and understory plants beneath willows include Carex pensylvanica or Pennsylvania Sedge, which has soft, grass-like foliage. It doesn’t crowd out other plants for nutrients in the soil and can provide ground cover as well as texture while suppressing weeds. A favorite of many TN Nursery customers is Trillium erectum or Red Trillium, which likes filtered sun and flourishes in a woodland setting created by a canopy of willows.
Aquatic Plants Box is a curated wetland species collection from TN Nursery that would complement any native willow setting. Native rushes and Water Willow (Justicia americana) soften the transition from land to water in ponds or streams. Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) also makes a great plant choice and creates habitat for frogs, turtles, dragonflies and a wide variety of other small wildlife. The added motion from all these species’ foliage brings a sense of living, breathing diversity to a willow grove or garden.
Willow Trees: More Than Ornamental—They’re Restoration Stars
In addition to serving as a natural and beautiful addition to a garden or landscape, Willow Trees are also restoration champions. We’ve watched our live Willow Tree Stakes become a staple in streambank restoration. Willow stakes root quickly in saturated soils and are perfect for erosion prevention, filtration, and disturbed land restoration.
Willows can even be part of a homeowner’s restoration efforts in their own yard through rain gardens—where water from downspouts and overland flow is directed to a lower area planted with willows and other moisture-tolerant species such as Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum). These and other native plants absorb runoff while providing nectar for monarchs and other pollinators.
When planting a native willow garden or space, think about other understory plants that can be seen in the wild places around the region. For example, Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) has feathery fronds that pop in the landscape and likes damp, woodland floors. Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) is a great option for winter interest and offers excellent erosion control on a shady slope near a willow.
All of these native plants and more are available at TN Nursery, shipped fresh and bare root to minimize transplant shock and maximize successful establishment in your landscape. Our packaging is carefully designed with plant health and sustainability in mind so your trees and companions arrive ready to grow.
A Natural Legacy: Why Willows Belong in Your Landscape
When you plant a willow tree, you set a tone. They are whimsical, move with the breeze, mark the changing seasons with quiet grace and make you want to linger. Willows turn a backyard into a retreat and a creekbed into a living sculpture.
At TN Nursery, we’ve helped thousands of gardeners restore and rewild their landscapes by planting native Willow species. Weeping Willow Trees tower with grace, and hardworking Black Willows are built for strength.
Whether you’re planting a willow as a memorial to a loved one, creating a pollinator sanctuary, or restoring damaged land, the willow is a noble first step. Fill it out with native sedges, ferns, irises and flowering perennials to create a living legacy for generations.
