Weeping Willow
Salix babylonica
Found in disturbed bottomlands, streambanks, roadsides, impoundments, other disturbed areas. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you
—
Not native
Not native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?
Profile 82%
- Height
- 30–40 feet
- Spread
- 30–40 feet
- Light
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil moisture
- Moist to standing water
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At a glance
- Life cycle
- Woody perennial
- Leaves
- Deciduous
- Bloom
- March to April
JFMAMJJASOND
Recorded in 53 Virginia counties.
Natural habitats
Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.
1 of 4
Streams, rivers and their banks
Floodplain and bottomland forests
Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.
Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground
Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.
Ecological relationships
Who uses this plant?
316CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA
Genus host records with ranges including VA · Salix
- Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
- Automeris ioIo Moth
- Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Moth
- Limenitis archippusViceroy
- Limenitis arthemisRed-spotted Purple
- Nymphalis antiopaMourning Cloak
- Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
- Abagrotis cupidaCupid Dart
- Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
- Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
Show all 316
- Acleris minutaLesser Apple Leaf Folder, Yellowheaded Fireworm
- Acleris nigrolineaBlack-Lined Acleris
- Acleris pulverosana"North American" Hasty Acleris
- Acleris viburnana"North American" Schaller's Acleris
- Acrobasis indigenellaLeaf Crumpler
- Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
- Acronicta connectaConnected Dagger
- Acronicta fragilisFragile Dagger
- Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
- Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
- Acronicta impressaImpressive Dagger, Printed Dagger
- Acronicta innotataUnmarked Dagger
- Acronicta insularisHenry's Marsh Moth, Cattail Caterpillar
- Acronicta interruptaInterrupted Dagger
- Acronicta lepusculinaCottonwood Dagger
- Acronicta longaLong-Winged Dagger, Darkish Dagger
- Acronicta noctivagaNight-Wandering Dagger, Burglar Dagger
- Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
- Acronicta radcliffeiRadcliffe's Dagger
- Actias lunaLuna Moth
- Adoneta spinuloidesPurple-Crested Slug
- Aethalura intertextaFour-Barred Gray
- Agonopterix argillaceaClay-Colored Agonopterix
- Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
- Americerura scitiscriptaBlack-Etched Prominent
- Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
- Anaplectoides prasinaGreen Arches Dart
- Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
- Ancylis diminuatanaShattered Ancylis
- Anisota virginiensisPink-striped Oakworm Moth
- Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
- Apamea amputatrixYellow-Headed Cutworm Moth
- Apantesis virgoVirgin Tiger Moth
- Apatelodes torrefactaSpotted Apatelodes
- Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
- Archips cerasivoranaCherry Tent Caterpillar, Cherry Worm, Ugly Nest Caterpillar
- Archips purpuranaOmnivorous Leafroller Moth
- Arctia parthenosSt. Lawrence Tiger Moth
- Argyrotaenia marianaGray-Banded Leafroller Moth
- Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
- Aristotelia roseosuffusellaPink-Washed Aristotelia
- Autographa amplaLarge Looper Moth, Broken-Banded Y, Climbing Looper
- Besma quercivorariaOak Besma
- Bibarrambla allenellaBog Bibarrambla
- Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
- Cabera erythemariaYellow-Dusted Cream Moth
- Cabera variolariaPink-Striped Willow Spanworm Moth, Vestal Moth, The Vestal
- Callosamia prometheaPromethea Silkmoth, Promethea Moth
- Caloptilia stigmatellaPoplar Caloptilia
- Campaea perlataPale Beauty, Fringed Looper
- Catocala amatrixThe Sweetheart, Sweetheart Underwing
- Catocala blandulaCharming Underwing
- Catocala carissimaCarissima Underwing Moth, Southern Darling Underwing
- Catocala concumbensSleepy Underwing, Pink Underwing
- Catocala marmorataMarbled Underwing
- Catocala partaMother Underwing
- Catocala piatrixThe Penitent, Penitent Underwing
- Catocala relictaWhite Underwing
- Catocala unijugaOnce-Married Underwing
- Cecrita biundataWavy-Lined Heterocampa
- Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
- Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
- Cerastis tenebriferaReddish Speckled Dart
- Choristoneura conflictanaLarge Aspen Tortrix
- Choristoneura parallelaParallel-Banded Leafroller, Spotted Fireworm Moth
- Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
- Citheronia regalisRoyal Walnut Moth, Hickory Horned Devil
- Cladara atroliturataThe Scribbler
- Cladara limitariaMottled Gray Carpet, Yellow-Lined Conifer Looper, Yellow-Lined Forest Looper, Black-Angled Wave
- Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
- Clostera albosigmaSigmoid Prominent
- Clostera apicalisPoplar Tent Caterpillar Moth, Toothed Clostera
- Clostera inclusaAngle-Lined Prominent, Poplar Tent Maker, Poplar Leaf-Tier
- Coelodasys apicalisPlain Schizura
- Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
- Coleophora multipulvellaApple Pistol Casebearer, Pistol Casebearer Moth
- Colobochyla interpunctaYellow-Lined Owlet, Marsh Belle
- Colocasia propinquilineaClosebanded Yellowhorn
- Condylolomia participalisDrab Condylolomia
- Condylorrhiza vestigialisThe Alamo Moth
- Crocigrapha normaniNorman's Quaker
- Cucullia intermediaIntermediate Cucullia, Goldenrod Cutworm, Dashed Paint, Intermediate Hooded Owlet Moth
- Cyclophora pendulinariaSweetfern Geometer
- Cydia gallaesalicianaWillow Gall Moth
- Dasychira basiflavaYellow-Based Tussock Moth
- Dasychira dorsipennataSharp-Lined Tussock Moth
- Dasychira obliquataStreaked Tussock Moth
- Dasychira plagiataNorthern Conifer Tussock Moth
- Dasychira vagansVariable Tussock Moth
- Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
- Digrammia gnophosariaHollow-Spotted Angle
- Dysstroma citrataDark Marbled Carpet
- Dysstroma truncataMarbled Carpet
- Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
- Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
- Egira alternansAlternate Woodling
- Elophila obliteralisWaterlily Leafcutter Moth
- Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
- Ennomos subsignariaElm Spanworm Moth
- Epirrita autumnataThe Autumnal Moth, November Moth
- Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
- Erora laetaEarly Hairstreak
- Euchlaena deductariaForked Euchlaena
- Euchlaena effectaEffective Euchlaena
- Euchlaena johnsonariaJohnson's Euchlaena
- Euchlaena marginariaOchre Euchlaena
- Euchlaena tigrinariaMotted Euchlaena
- Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
- Eudryas unioPearly Wood-Nymph
- Eueretagrotis attentusAttentive Dart
- Eueretagrotis perattentusTwo-Spot Dart
- Eulia ministranaFerruginous Eulia
- Eulithis propulsataCurrant Eulithis
- Euparthenos nubilisLocust Underwing
- Euphyia intermediataSharp-Angled Carpet Moth, The Intermediate
- Eupithecia columbiataColumbia Pug
- Eupithecia fletcherataFletcher's Eupithecia
- Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
- Eupithecia misturataInsignificant Pug
- Eupithecia satyrataSatyr Pug
- Euplexia benesimilisAmerican Angle Shades
- Eupsilia sidusSidus Sallow
- Eupsilia tristigmataThree-Spotted Sallow, Brown Fruitworm
- Eurois occultaGreat Grey Dart, Great Brocade
- Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
- Evora hemidesmaSpirea Leaftier
- Fishia illocataWandering Brocade
- Furcula cinereaGray Furcula
- Gesta icelusDreamy Duskywing
- Glena cribratariaDotted Gray
- Gluphisia septentrionisCommon Gluphisia
- Gypsonoma salicicolanaSmall Gypsonoma
- Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
- Haploa clymeneClymene Moth
- Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
- Haploa reversaReversed Haploa
- Harrisimemna trisignataHarris's Three-Spot
- Hedya separatanaPink-Washed Leafroller Moth
- Herpetogramma pertextalisBold-Feathered Grass Moth
- Hesperumia sulphurariaSulphur Moth
- Hyles lineataWhite-Lined Sphinx
- Hypagyrtis piniataPine Measuringworm Moth, Pine Variant
- Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
- Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
- Hypercompe scriboniaGiant Leopard Moth, Great Leopard Moth
- Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
- Hyppa xylinoidesCommon Hyppa
- Ipimorpha pleonectusaEven-Lined Sallow, Blackcheeked Tentmaker
- Iridopsis defectariaBrown-Shaded Gray, Willow Looper
- Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
- Iridopsis humariaSmall Purplish Gray
- Iridopsis larvariaBent-Line Gray
- Lacanobia grandisGrand Arches
- Lacanobia subjunctaSpeckled Arches, Subdues Arches, Harnessed Mamestra, Speckled Cutworm Moth, Grand Arches?(incorrectly)
- Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
- Lithacodes fasciolaYellow-Shouldered Slug
- Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
- Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
- Lithophane dispositaGreen-Gray Pinion, Dashed Grey Pinion
- Lithophane heminaHemina Pinion
- Lithophane innominataNameless Pinion
- Lithophane lemmeriLemmer's Pinion
- Lithophane petulcaWanton Pinion
- Lithophane tepidaWarm Gray Pinion, White-Eyes Pinion
- Lithophane unimodaDowdy Pinion
- Lobophora nivigerataPowdered Bigwing, Two-Lined Aspen Looper
- Lophocampa caryaeHickory Tussock Moth, Hickory Tiger Moth
- Lophocampa maculataSpotted Tussock Moth, Yellow-Spotted Tiger Moth
- Lycophotia phyllophoraBrick Dart, Leafy Dart
- Macaria coortariaFour-Spotted Angle, Four-Spotted Granite
- Macaria ulsterataBirch Angle, Peacock Moth
- Machimia tentoriferellaGold-Striped Leaftier Moth
- Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
- Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
- Marmara salictellaWillow Stem Miner
- Megalopyge crispataBlack-Waved Flannel Moth, Crinkled Flannel Moth
- Megalopyge opercularisSouthern Flannel Moth, Puss Caterpillar
- Meganola minusculaConfused Meganola, Confused Oak Punkie
- Melanchra adjunctaHitched Arches
- Melanchra assimilisBlack Arches
- Melanchra pictaPainted Arches, Zebra Caterpillar Moth
- Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
- Melanolophia signatariaSignate Melanolphia
- Melipotis jucundaMerry Melipotis
- Metanema determinataDark Metanema
- Metanema inatomariaPale Metanema
- Metarranthis duariaRuddy Metarranthis
- Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
- Morrisonia latexFluid Arches, Fluid Mamestra
- Nadata gibbosaWhite-Dotted Prominent
- Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
- Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
- Nycteola frigidanaFrigid Baileya, Frigid Nycteola, Frigid Owlet
- Nycteola metaspilellaSienna-Dotted Nycteola, Forgotten Frigid Owlet
- Nymphalis l-albumCompton Tortoiseshell
- Nymphalis milbertiMilbert's Tortoise Shell, Fire-Rim Tortoise Shell
- Ochropleura implectaAmerican Flame-Shouldered Dart
- Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
- Oedemasia leptinoidesBlack-Blotched Schizura
- Oedemasia semirufescensRed-Washed Prominent
- Oiketicus abbotiiAbbot's Bagworm Moth
- Olethreutes appendiceumServiceberry Leafroller
- Olethreutes fasciatanaBanded Olethreutes
- Oreana unicolorellaLadder-Marked Caterpillar
- Orgyia definitaDefinite Tussock Moth
- Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
- Orthodes majusculaRustic Quaker, Rustic Groundcat
- Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
- Orthosia revictaSubdued Quaker
- Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
- Pachysphinx modestaModest Sphinx, The Big Poplar Sphinx
- Paleacrita vernataSpring Cankerworm Moth
- Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
- Pandemis canadanaGreen Aspen Leaftier
- Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Panopoda carneicostaBrown Panopoda, Hickory Panopoda
- Panopoda rufimargoRed-Lined Panopoda
- Paonias astylusHuckleberry Sphinx
- Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
- Paonias myopsSmall-Eyed Sphinx
- Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
- Paranthrene dolliiPoplar Borer
- Paranthrene tabaniformisDusky Clearwing
- Parasa chlorisSmaller Parasa, Green Slug Moth
- Parastichtis suspectaThe Suspected
- Pero ancetariaHubner's Pero
- Pero morrisonariaMorrison's Pero
- Phaeoura quernariaOak Beauty Moth
- Pheosia rimosaBlack-Rimmed Prominent, Mirrowbacked Caterpillar
- Phiaris glacianaFrosted Olethreutes
- Phigalia strigatariaSmall Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
- Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
- Phlogophora periculosaBrown Angle Shades
- Phobetron pitheciumHag Moth, Monkey Slug
- Phyllodesma americanaLappet Moth, American Lappet Moth, Southern Lappet Moth
- Phyllonorycter apparellaAspen Leaf Blotch Miner
- Phyllonorycter populiellaPoplar Leafminer
- Phyllonorycter salicifoliellaWillow Leaf Blotch Miner
- Plagodis alcoolariaHollow-Spotted Plagodis
- Plagodis phlogosariaStraight-Lined Plagodis
- Plagodis pulverariaAmerican Barred Umber, Barred Umber
- Platynota idaeusalisTufted Apple-Bud Moth
- Pleuroprucha insulsariaCommon Tan Wave
- Pococera aplastellaAspen Webworm Moth
- Pococera asperatellaMaple Webworm
- Polia imbriferaCloudy Arches
- Polia nimbosaStormy Arches
- Prionoxystus robiniaeCarpenterworm Moth, Black Locust Borer, Cottonwood Borer
- Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
- Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
- Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
- Protitame virginalisVirgin Moth
- Protoboarmia porcelariaPorcelain Gray, Dashedlined Looper
- Pseudexentera oregonanaEarly Aspen Leafcurler
- Pseudothyatira cymatophoroidesTufted Thyatirid
- Psilocorsis reflexellaDotted Leaftier Moth
- Pyreferra citrombraEyed Mustard Sallow, Citrine Sallow
- Pyromorpha dimidiataOrange-Patched Smoky Moth
- Pyrrhia exprimensPurple-Lined Sallow, Purple-Lined Sun Moth
- Raphia fraterThe Brother, Yellow-Marked Caterpillar
- Rheumaptera hastataSpear-Marked Black Moth, Spear Mark
- Rheumaptera prunivorataFerguson's Scallop Shell, Cherry Scallop Shell
- Rheumaptera subhastataWhite-Banded Black Moth
- Satyrium liparopsStriped Hairstreak
- Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
- Scoliopteryx libatrixThe Herald
- Selenia alcipheariaNorthern Selenia, Northern Thorn
- Sicya maculariaSharp-Lined Yellow
- Sideridis roseaThe Rosewing
- Smerinthus jamaicensisTwin-Spotted Sphinx
- Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
- Sphinx gordiusApple Sphinx
- Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
- Spiramater lutraDarling Mamestra, Splashed Arches, Otter Spiramater, Otter Arches
- Spodoptera eridaniaSouthern Armyworm Moth
- Sthenopis argenteomaculatusSilver-Spotted Ghost Moth, Alder Ghost Moth
- Sunira bicoloragoBicolored Sallow
- Synanthedon proximaWillow Borer, Eastern Willow Clearwing
- Synanthedon scitulaDogwood Borer, Pecan Borer
- Synchlora aerataWavy-Lined Emerald, Camouflaged Looper
- Syndemis afflictanaFall Dead-Leaf Roller, Gray Leafroller, Black-and-Grey Banded Leafroller
- Tetracis cachexiataWhite Slant-Line
- Tetracis crocallataYellow Slant-Line
- Thalera pistasciariaPistachio Emerald
- Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
- Tolype velledaLarge Tolype, Large Lappet Moth, Vellada Lappet Moth
- Tortricidia pallidaRed-Cross Button Slug
- Trichordestra legitimaStriped Garden Caterpillar Moth
- Venusia cambricaThe Welsh Wave
- Xanthorhoe lacustrataToothed Brown Carpet
- Xanthotype sospetaCrocus Geometer
- Xylena nuperaRed Swordgrass Moth, American Swordgrass Moth, False Armyworm
- Xystopeplus rufagoRed-Winged Sallow
- Zale lunataLunate Zale
- Zale minereaColorful Zale
- Acleris hudsoniana
- Acleris maccana
- Acleris macdunnoughi
- Aethes angustana
- Ancylis subaequana
- Aristotelia fungivorella
- Epinotia walkerana
- Eupithecia swettii
- Framinghamia helvalis
- Herpetogramma aquilonalis
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
16Specialist beesPollen specialists
Pollen specialists · Salix
- Andrena andrenoides
- Andrena arenicola
- Andrena bisalicis
- Andrena clarkella
- Andrena erythrogaster
- Andrena frigida
- Andrena illinoiensis
- Andrena macoupinensis
- Andrena mariae
- Andrena nida
Show all 16
- Andrena nigrae
- Andrena salictaria
- Andrena sigmundi
- Andrena subaustralis
- Andrena wellesleyana
- Perdita maculigera
9BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Salix
- Acanthis flammeaCommon Redpoll
- Anser caerulescensSnow Goose
- Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
- Falcipennis canadensisSpruce Grouse
- Lagopus lagopusWillow Ptarmigan
- Lagopus leucuraWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
- Lagopus mutaRock Ptarmigan
- Pinicola enucleatorPine Grosbeak
- Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening
Growing and identification
Plant details
- Family
- Salicaceae
- Hardiness
- Zones 6a–8b
- Soil pH
- Acidic to alkaline
- Flower color
- Gray/silver, green or inconspicuous
Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.
Growing sources and scope
- Bloom · “March to April” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
- Flower color · “Gray/silver, green or inconspicuous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Hardiness · “Zones 6a–8b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Height · “30–40 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- primary_flower_color · “green” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Soil · “Frequent standing water; Moist; Occasionally wet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Soil pH · “Acidic to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Spread · “30–40 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Conservation status
| Virginia rank | SNA |
|---|---|
| Global rank | GNR |
| VA status | Not verified |
| Federal status | Not verified |
Sources
- Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora
- USDA PLANTS
- Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition
- NatureServe Explorer
- Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
- Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
- Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire 2020, Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species, Nature Communications