black willow - stem cuttings (#3)

Black willow stem cuttings are sold in bundles of 3 and 12.

First, willows are amazing.

Stem cuttings of black willow are composed of 1 year hardwood cuttings with a few leaf nodes present. The sloped cut will be the soil end, and the flat cut will be on the end where leaves will emerge. Cuttings will be at least 8 inches in length, usually more.

Black willow stem cuttings are easy to root with no special care or rooting hormones. It can be as simple as sticking the cutting in fertile, loose soil that is weed-free while it is dormant. Depth is important to keep the cutting moist where roots form, so make sure to get your cutting at least 3 inches deep and mulch it well. The cuttings can be prepared for planting this way in their permanent location in the fall, winter, or early spring in NC. Colder climates should plant this way in late fall OR early spring. Expect a 90 percent success rate in most cases.

Black willow is a great native candidate for wet soils where stream banks need to be restored or soil erosion mitigated. They are wonderful for coppicing, using the ‘whips’ for a number of crafty tasks, such as basket making. They are prolific biomass generators, which also remediate soils from certain contaminants.