Carolina Willow
(Coastal Plain Willow)
Salix caroliniana
Plant Family: Salicaceae
Leaves: Alternate, simple, lanceolate, to 15 cm, often lightly toothed, green above and lighter beneath.
Bark: Light gray to brown, rough and blocky on older specimens.
Flowers: Dioecious, the yellow flowers appear along the branches in short catkins from late winter into spring.
Fruits: Small two-part capsules, each containing many tiny hairy seeds that are released to the air to float to new habitat. The white-tufted fruits appear after the flowers in the spring and summer.
Habitat: Like most other Salix species Carolina Willow is found near water or in moist soil and is common in the south Florida peninsula; it is uncommon on the Keys.
Growth Form: Small tree.
Similar Species: The leaves are similar to Black Willow (Salix nigra), but that species is limited to northern Florida.
Comments: The leaf buds press closely to the twigs and have a single scale, which is characteristic of all the willows.
