Welcome to Catnapin's

Tree and Shrub Gallery

Willows and the Like

Salicaceae - Willow family

Black Willow (Swamp Willow) Salix nigra

This tree lives next to permanent water sources and can grow more than 100 feet tall. Sapling's branches hang into the water, but older trees do not.  Flower cluster about 2" long.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May - June 2004

(Native of Texas)

Bignoniaceae - Catalpa family (Trumpet-creeper family)

Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis

Flower is about 1 1/2" wide and 2" long.  Leaves are very slender and usually 3"-5" long but can reach 12" long.  Slender seed pod 2"-4" long.  Tree grows to about 30 feet tall and has leaning trunks.  This is a desert plant used widely as an ornamental.  Cattle do not eat this plant.  Flowers make good honey.  A variety of birds eat the seeds.  Wood is used for fence posts.

Photos taken in Coleman County, Texas, July 2005

(Native of Texas, not in Taylor County)

Asteraceae (Compositae) - Sunflower family

Willow Baccharis Baccharis salicina

Shrubby plant growing 3-12 feet tall with a base 2"-3" wide.  No trunk.  Limbs about 1/2"-3/4" wide.  Flowers are about 3/8" long, white and fuzzy in loose clusters at the ends of limbs.  Male and female flowers are on different plants.  Leaves are 1"-2" long with a few teeth.  Grows in sunny, damp areas.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, September 2005

Photos taken in Coleman County, Texas, September 2005

(Native of Texas)

Similar Species

Narrow-leaf Baccharis (Saltwater False Willow) Baccharis angustifolia

Evergreen - leaves are more narrow and flowers are much larger than B. salicina

Seepwillow Baccharis (Stickly Baccharis, Water Wally) Baccharis glutinosa

Leaves appear too wide and flower is much more clumpy than B. salicina

Asteraceae (Compositae) - Sunflower family

Eastern Baccharis (Groundsel Tree, Sea-myrtle, Consumption-weed) Baccharis halimifolia

Male and female flowers are on separate plants.  Male flowers are Yellow (resemble Old Plainsman).  Female flowers are white, the white pappus (seed hairs) remains attached to the plant for months  Lanceolate leaves, upper are smaller and entire, lower are wider (diamond shape) with a few teeth.  Shrubby tree is evergreen, 10 feet tall, sometimes 20 feet tall.  Likes moist areas and create thickets.

Photos taken in Van Zandt County, Texas, November 2006

(Native of Texas)

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