: It requires moist to wet, nutrient-poor, acidic soil and does not tolerate drying out.
: Like many willows, it provides essential food and habitat for wildlife and is a vital resource for early spring pollinators. Practical Uses balsam willow
: The leaves are typically ovate to elliptic, often with a heart-shaped base . They are dark glossy green on top and pale blue-green (glaucous) with prominent veins on the underside. : It requires moist to wet, nutrient-poor, acidic
: Noted for its shiny red twigs and bright red buds, which provide striking winter interest. They are dark glossy green on top and
: Peatlands, black spruce-tamarack bogs, alder swamps, and the sandy shores of lakes and creeks.
: Its rods are valued for basketry and making tension trays because they retain a glossy sheen even after drying, unlike many other willow varieties that become dull.
: It usually grows as a multi-stemmed shrub reaching 6 to 12 feet (1.8 to 3.6 meters) in height, though it can occasionally form a small tree up to 13–20 feet. Habitat and Ecology