The morphological characteristics of willow are as follows: trees or creeping, cushion-shaped, erect shrubs. The branches are cylindrical and the pith is nearly round. There is no terminal bud, the lateral buds are usually close to the branches, and the bud scales are single. Leaves alternate, sparsely opposite, usually narrow and long, mostly lanceolate, pinnately veined, serrated or entire; Petiole short; Stipules, serrated, usually early, sparsely persistent. Inflorescence erect or obliquely spreading, leaves open first, or open at the same time with leaves, leaves open after sparse; Bracts entire, hairy or glabrous, persistent, sparsely caducous; Stamens 2 to many, filaments free or partially or completely connate; Glands 1 to 2 (ventral glands are located between inflorescence axis and filaments, and dorsal glands are close to bracts); The pistil is composed of 2 carpels, the ovary is sessile or stipitate, the styles are different in length or missing, single 1 or dehiscent, the stigma 1 pair 2, dehiscent or indehiscent. Capsule 2-valved; The seeds are very small. How dark brown.

Willow is a kind of plant with ecological amplitude, which has wide adaptability to the environment. Like light, wet and cold, it is a medium-sized wet tree species. However, some species are also more drought-tolerant and salt-tolerant, can grow in places with poor ecological conditions, and grow better in plain areas with excellent site conditions. The average life span is 20 to 30 years, and a few varieties can reach 100 years or more. The annual growth period is long, with early germination and late defoliation, and individual tree species in the south are evergreen trees.

There are many kinds of willows, which are easy to cross. Hybrid has strong growth potential and adaptability, and it is easy to reproduce asexually. You can choose from natural or artificial hybrid populations and obtain excellent clonal varieties through asexual propagation. In addition, a large number of high-quality seedlings can be obtained quickly by plant tissue culture. Breeding based on ornamental gardens should focus on improving their branches, leaves and tree shapes, and improving their anti-pollution and pruning and shaping abilities.

Willow is one of the main tree species in North Temperate Park, with beautiful tree shape, early flowering and shady trees in early spring. Such as weeping willows and Korean weeping willows, with slender drooping branches, such as willow leaves of eyebrows. All kinds of shrubs and willows are resistant to pruning and can be cultivated into shrubs of various shapes or used as hedges. Willow is most suitable for waterside greening in garden landscape, such as "Willow Warming Warbler" in Hangzhou West Lake and "Taoxi Liuan" in Guiyang Huaxi. There are still many beautiful willows to be developed, such as those with big leaves, magnolia-like, purple branches, long spikes, red and yellow, red pistils and stigmas, which are also beautiful. In addition, there are more than 20 kinds of alpine willows, which are only 5 ~ 30cm in height, with creeping or upright branches, twisted and deformed, with different shapes, long life and easy survival, and are good materials for making garden bonsai. Commonly used in garden viewing, residential areas, gardens, schools, factories, hillsides, courtyards, roadsides and buildings. When in full bloom, the branches spread in all directions, making the courtyard full of green with high ornamental value; It is an ideal tree species to beautify the courtyard. It has strong resistance to air pollution and dust and is suitable for growing in urban gardens, especially by pools or streams.

Bark contains tannin; The material is worse than willow, which can be used as utensils and paper raw materials; Catkin can fill chair cushions and pillows; Branches and fibrous roots can dispel wind and remove dampness. There is a cloud in the poem: the willow is dark and the flowers are bright. It shows that willow is extremely easy to survive. The fiber of willow bark can be used as raw material for textile and rope making; Branches can be woven into baskets, baskets, crates and helmets. Wood is white and tough. Can be used as small farm tools, small household appliances and charcoal burning.

Willow is light, easy to cut, does not deform after drying, and has no special smell. It can be used as materials for buildings, potholes, box boards, match sticks and so on. Wood fiber content is high, which is the raw material of papermaking and artificial cotton; Willow and willow branches are good firewood; Many kinds of wicker can be woven into baskets, boxes, hats and so on. Willow leaves can be used as feed for sheep and horses; Honey source plants; It is a beautiful ornamental tree species.