Willow tree: requiring a minimum care

Willow trees are easy to spot, yet many crave in-depth knowledge about them. These low-maintenance plants grow quickly. They show off beautiful crowns. Their branches are elegant. Their leaves have a unique beauty.

Willows thrive in central Russia. Most types, like the common willow, need lots of water. They love wet areas. Poets have even written about old willows. These poems mention how willows dip their branches into the water.

Willows first grew on Earth a very long time ago. Scientists have found willow traces in chalk formations. The willow family has at least 350 kinds. These plants mostly live in the cool parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Their homes stretch past the Arctic Circle. Some types even grow in the tropics.

A willow often reaches 50 feet tall. Its trunk can be about a foot wide. Some wild willows grow up to 130 feet. The tree lives for about 50 years. Its leaves are usually curly, thick, and dark green.

A willow's traits depend on its age. They also depend on where it grows.