Salix eriocephala Michx.

Missouri Willow; Diamond Willow; Heartleaf Willow

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Missouri Willow is a native perennial in the Willow family (Salicaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Missouri Willow grows in wet prairies, along streams, on seeps, and in wet roadside ditches. It is a multi-trunked large shrub reaching heights of 3-18 feet. It is often much branched near the base. The stems, like those of most willows, are brittle. The branches are yellow-green in color, often with some red-brown pigmentation, especially on plants in full sun. The branches are pubescent. Leaves are deciduous, alternate, lanceolate to oblong in outline, with serrated margins. Mature leaves are green above and glaucous below. Large persistent stipules occur at the base of the leaves. The stipules are oval to reniform in outline with serrated margins. Flowers are produced before the leaves in early spring. Missouri Willow is dioecious (having separate male and female plants). Flowers are produced in short upright catkins. Male catkins are yellowish-white in color and showy. They somewhat resemble the catkins of Pussy Willow. Female catkins are green and non-showy. The fruit is a capsule with many small seed. The wind dispersed seed have a white cottony tuff of hairs. Missouri Willow is rarely offered for sale by native plant nurseries. It is however easy to root from cuttings at almost any time of the year. Missouri Willow can be grown around ponds or along streams. It prefers full sun and wet clayey soil.--A. Diamond

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Native FACW (NWPL) OBL (DEP)

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