The weeping willow tree is a graceful giant known for its long, swooping branches covered with rustling leaves. Majestic in appearance, it stems from China but has spread throughout the world in recent centuries. These trees have been mistakenly identified with the trees mentioned about Babylon in the Psalms.
These enormous trees are associated with the feeling of melancholy because the branches give the appearance that the tree is weeping. This impression is amplified by the fact that these trees frequently are found at the banks of rivers, ponds and other bodies of water.
In the United States, that range includes middle America and most of the south, northeast and northwest. While placement near water is ideal, willows can also be planted in drier conditions. They thrive in a variety of soils, including alkaline, moist, loamy, acidic, sandy, fertile, clay and well-drained.
Weeping willows proliferate, sometimes increasing in size at as much as two feet a year. In addition to their positive ornamental qualities, willows provide excellent shelter for a variety of birds and small mammals and are favorite nesting spots.
The umbrella-like cover that the branches provide blocks out the sunlight underneath. At maturity, a person could comfortably sit under a willow and be completely sheltered from the sun. Hence, they make excellent book nooks and picnic spots. Moreover, they add a touch of elegance to any landscape, whether on their own or as part of a grove of trees.