Ecosystem Benefits of Shrub Willows
The shrub willows provide enormous ecosystem benefits — second only to oaks! They flower as catkins (picture Pussy Willow) which provide one of the earliest spring sources of nectar and pollen for insects, including honey bees. Birds eat the catkins and buds. Warblers and Finches nest in their branches. Their leaves are a larval host for hundreds of butterfly and moth species, including Tiger Swallowtail, Mourning Cloak, Commas, Viceroys, Red-spotted Purples, and several species of Hairstreak.
Deer, muskrats, beavers, rabbits, and other animals eat the twigs. Some species of ducks and woodpeckers nest in the trees’ soft trunks.
Willow roots help stabilize soil and prevent erosion along riverbanks. They are an important tool in maintaining the quality of aquatic ecosystems.
Landscape Use of Shrub Willows
The native shrub willows work well as edge plantings in any damp or moist area. When massed, they present a fine texture. They are all fast growers and fine textured, with narrow leaves.
Shrub Willow Species
Salix lucida – Shining Willow
If you want a larger shrub at the edge of a wet area, try to Shining Willow. Plant it along a stream bank or wet area. It will help control erosion and provide beneficial nooks and crannies among its roots for all sorts of aquatic creatures.
Salix sericea- Silky Willow
Silky Willow is a moderate sized shrub good for for an average to moist garden area. Try massing it for a fine-textured hedge. You will see birds nesting in the dense branches.
Salix discolor – Pussy Willow
This plant is a favorite of many, as the females produce fuzzy catkins in early spring. Hummingbirds line their nests with the fuzz from willow catkins. Read more about this plant here.
