The willow is both friend and foe on New Zealand lifestyle blocks. We have many different varieties that serve a huge range of purposes, from soil conservation to firewood, to use in cricket bats to fodder trees for stock.
Research by by Taihape farmers Fraser and Shona Gordon has also shown it may be one of the answers to ever-increasing worm counts in livestock. Tannins in particular willow varieties, like 'Kinuyanagi", are known to paralyse worms. An initial trial found faecal egg counts of undrenched lambs that were eating willow-browse were similar to drenched lambs on pasture, with similar weight gains in both groups.
The features that make willow such a useful tree can also be negatives: its quick growth, its massive root system, its tendency to do damage to waterways and its ability to spread.
The worst offender Grey willow
Salix cinerea, sometimes mistakenly called Pussy willow
This is a shrub or small tree with leaves that are shiny on the upper side and covered in soft grey hair underneath. It is usually the dominant vegetation in swampy areas, clogging up waterways and smothering emerging native wetland trees.
For more information, including how to get rid of it, check out Weedbusters
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| 'Peking' willow |
Some of the best willows
Here, we outline just a few of the willow you might find useful.
Peking Willow
Salix matsudana
Size: up to 15-20m
Description: spreading crown, light green foliage, often used as specimen tree, leafs up early
Growing conditions: drought tolerant, wind hardy
Uses: soil conservation, fodder, not as popular anymore compared to other hybrids due to the high amount of breakage in windy areas.
Here, we outline just a few of the willow you might find useful.
Peking Willow
Salix matsudana
Size: up to 15-20m
Description: spreading crown, light green foliage, often used as specimen tree, leafs up early
Growing conditions: drought tolerant, wind hardy
Uses: soil conservation, fodder, not as popular anymore compared to other hybrids due to the high amount of breakage in windy areas.
Moutere
Salix matsudana x alba (NZ1184)
Size: up to 25m
Description: straight stem, narrow crown, dense, leafy until early winter
Growing conditions: prefers moist areas, is wind tolerant
Uses: fodder (very fast growing), erosion control, shelterbelt, riparian control
Tangoio
Salix matsudana x alba (NZ1040)
Size: up to 25m
Description: dense crown, good low branch retention
Growing conditions: moist mid-slopes to dry flat land, not as good on high, dry slopes
Uses: good shelterbelt (high wind tolerance, dense lower branches), fodder (although its thin bark needs to be protected from stock), erosion control
Salix matsudana x alba (NZ1184)
Size: up to 25m
Description: straight stem, narrow crown, dense, leafy until early winter
Growing conditions: prefers moist areas, is wind tolerant
Uses: fodder (very fast growing), erosion control, shelterbelt, riparian control
Tangoio
Salix matsudana x alba (NZ1040)
Size: up to 25m
Description: dense crown, good low branch retention
Growing conditions: moist mid-slopes to dry flat land, not as good on high, dry slopes
Uses: good shelterbelt (high wind tolerance, dense lower branches), fodder (although its thin bark needs to be protected from stock), erosion control
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| 'Kinuyanagi' willow |
Kinuyanagi
Salix vimimalis (PN386)
Size: 4-6m
Description: large bushy shrub, leaves silvery underneath
Growing conditions: moist fertile sites
Uses: very fast-growing fodder (up to 10 tonnes of DM per hectare per year, nitrogen content 2.7, similar to Lucerne hay), worm control (high tannin levels paralyse worms), firewood
Salix vimimalis (PN386)
Size: 4-6m
Description: large bushy shrub, leaves silvery underneath
Growing conditions: moist fertile sites
Uses: very fast-growing fodder (up to 10 tonnes of DM per hectare per year, nitrogen content 2.7, similar to Lucerne hay), worm control (high tannin levels paralyse worms), firewood
True Pussy Willow
Salix x reichardtii (PN215)
Size: up to 10m
Description: multi-stemmed shrubby tree
Growing conditions: tolerant of dry conditions, salt winds, acid soils
Uses: soil conservation, windbreaks
Note: Pussy willow can be invasive in wetland areas, so this hybrid is male only and should not be planted near wetland areas.
Irette
Salix purpurea (PN608)
Size: up to 8m
Description: very upright shrub-small tree, flexible branches
Growing conditions: especially good on river banks, high altitudes, not drought tolerant.
Uses: bank stabilisation, especially in areas prone to flood as tends to bend under water weight rather than break, soil conservation
Note: is very unpalatable to possums
Salix x reichardtii (PN215)
Size: up to 10m
Description: multi-stemmed shrubby tree
Growing conditions: tolerant of dry conditions, salt winds, acid soils
Uses: soil conservation, windbreaks
Note: Pussy willow can be invasive in wetland areas, so this hybrid is male only and should not be planted near wetland areas.
Irette
Salix purpurea (PN608)
Size: up to 8m
Description: very upright shrub-small tree, flexible branches
Growing conditions: especially good on river banks, high altitudes, not drought tolerant.
Uses: bank stabilisation, especially in areas prone to flood as tends to bend under water weight rather than break, soil conservation
Note: is very unpalatable to possums
Nadene Hall
NZ Lifestyle Block magazine
NZ Lifestyle Block magazine
