Coastal Plain Willow Traditional Cache

Coastal Plain Willow is the only Florida native willow. It likes to grow where it's wet, so watch out where you step. Please BYOP and check the cache info at the bottom of the page.

Coastal Plain Willow

Salix caroliniana, commonly known as the coastal plain willow, is a shrub or small tree native to the southeastern United States, Mexico and parts of Central America and the Caribbean. It is an obligate wetland  species and grows as an emergent species in the Everglades.

In the absence of fire, S. caroliniana can convert herbaceous wetlands to forested wetlands. Although fires kill large woody stems and the species does not reproduce by rhizomes or root sprouts, it sprouts readily after fire. As a result, the total number of stems does not change, but fire converts S. caroliniana from a tree into a shrub.

Salix caroliniana flowers in the early spring, either before or together with the emergence of leaves. 

The species was first described by French naturalist Andre Michaux in 1803 in his Flora Boreali-Americana.

Wild South Florida:

Mention willow and aspirin comes to mind. Literally for thousands of years, humans have turned to the bark of this tree to treat a variety of ailments — headaches, fever and the like. In fact coastal plain willow, salix caroliana, is known as the toothache tree because of its analgesic qualities. All of this is because of salicin compounds willows possess. Treat salicin with acetyl chloride and you get the wonder drug found in medicine cabinets around the globe called — drumroll, please — aspirin! Despite the popularity of aspirin and the development of other compounds that act similarly, willow bark is still in use and can be bought easily online and most likely at stores that sell supplements herbal remedies (we've not checked the shelves of our local pharmacy chains). We're not advocating one way or another, mind you. Now back to the species at hand, coastal plain. It is the only species of willow native to Florida. Its scientific name translated gives you its other common name, Carolina willow.

Its range extends from the MidAtlantic states to the Midwest, southward to Mexico, Guatemala and Cuba. It is a moisture-loving plant and is found along the edges of bodies of water, in marshes and wet forests. It can be shrubby or it can grow to nearly 70 feet tall (more commonly maxing at about half that). 

Coastal plain willow blooms in late winter and early spring, producing yellow-green flowers in a spike called a catkin. 

The seeds are fuzzy, cottony collections designed to be blown by the wind. Male and female flowers are found on separate trees. 

It is the host plant for 111 species of butterflies and moths, including the viceroy butterfly, and home to the cottonwood beetle. The leaves and branches are food for deer. Its dense foliage provides cover for  birds and other animals. 

Both male and female catkins produce nectar, which attracts various pollinating insects. Willows are also wind pollinated.

Coastal plain willow has been used to make artificial limbs, arrows, charcoal for making gun powder, furniture and baskets for a variety of uses. It is commercially grown and can be used in landscaping in wet environments.

Florida Native Plant Society:

Ethnobotany: Willow stems have been used for basketry and other woven wood structures such as fences and furniture. Willow sap contains salicylic acid, which is a natural ingredient of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid).

Other Comments: While generally a swamp plant, this tree can grow in uplands. There is a thriving volunteer in a parking lot island near this building. It is both thriving and attractive. Stems root readily and most of the stems stuck in a moist substrate will survive without any further care. It is often used in stream bank restoration.

The cache is a tied in, camoed, big "micro" pill bottle, that you have to push hard to open and close. The log is rolled with a rubber band around it, so it will fit easily in the tiny plastic zip lock bag. Please make sure the bag is well sealed when you're done and close the cap tightly. BYOP.