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Weeping willow
Habit (mature) · Fons Heijnsbroek / Wikimedia Commons · CC0 (public domain dedication)
Limited coverage
Weeping willow
Salix babylonica
A medium to large deciduous tree with a stout trunk topped by a broad-rounded crown of slender branches that sweep down to the ground — the classic weeping silhouette. Native to northern China (Linnaeus mistook it for the biblical willow of Babylon), it grows fast to 30-50 feet tall and as wide and is at its best beside a pond or stream. It is dioecious, with silvery-green catkins in April-May on separate male and female trees, but weak wood, aggressive shallow roots, and many pest and disease problems make it a poor choice near houses or pipes.
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: narrow (24/100)
Focal point
Structure
Light
Full sun / Part sun / Part shade
Water
Consistent moisture
Mature size
360-600" tall · 480" apart
Hardy in zones
6a-8b
cold to frosty winters
Summer heat range
Warm-Hot
warm to hot summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
No
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A documented larval host for the Eastern tiger swallowtail and 1 other species — caterpillars feed on its foliage before becoming the next generation.
Wildlife relationships
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Weeping willow (Salix babylonica). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/weeping-willow
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder
Botanical research database
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC0 1.0 public domain dedication
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
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