fragilis

The Hybrid Crack Willow forms a large imposing tree that is widely naturalized in Eurasia, North America, temperate South America, South Africa and Australia. It was introduced to the US by settlers and is found all over New England, mid-Atlantic States and many Western States. It is one of the commonest large trees in Northwest Vermont and the striking furrowed bark is prominent in winter. The catkins appear with the leaves in May-June and the abundant male catkins are bright yellow, making a very colorful display. It thrives along river banks, its natural home. There are no rivers on my property, but we had several when we moved there. One is an ancient male specimen that is 60ft tall and 60ft across near the top! They are called crack willows because the two-year old branches snap off very easily and this is why they are distributed so widely as broken branches root very easily and during floods are moved down river–a process called stem fragmentation.