Crack Willow

Crack Willow
Crack Willow

Crack Willow

Salix fragilis

Most collections of Salix fragilis are male, indicating that most populations have arisen vegetatively. Females may set seed however pollen donors may be from other Salix species. Willows are extensively naturalized along watercourses and may dominate creek banks and flood plains shading out native species. They are often removed prior to revegetation works on stream banks.

Details Description
Type
Tree
Group
Willow
Identifying Characteristics

A deciduous tree to 18 m high. One to several short trunks with pale grey-brown to dark brown coarse and deeply fissured bark. Branches are erect to spreading or slightly weeping, forming a wide, irregular crown. Twigs and shoots are very brittle at the point of attachment. Dark green leaves are lanceolate to ovate, 8-17.5 cm long and 1.5-4 cm wide. Male and female catkins are spreading or erect appearing with the leaves. Flowers September-October.
Distinctive Features

A distinctive 'cracking' sound is obtained when twigs are snapped from the branches. Leaves are held erect, not weeping.
Life Form Group
Tree
Life Form Codes
Understorey Tree or Large Shrub (T)
Native Status
Introduced
Weed Status Invasiveness
High INVASIVE
Weed Status Impact
High IMPACT
Taxonomy
Phylum
Charophyta
Class
Equisetopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Family
Salicaceae
Genus
Salix
Species
fragilis
Crack Willow
Native to western Europe. Scattered but locally common, mainly through eastern Victoria, near Geelong and Werribee. Naturalized in South Australia, New South Wales, Tasmania, New Zealand, USA and Canada.

Distribution maps indicate current and historic locations where species have been sighted.

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Endangered Status
DEPI Advisory List
Not listed
FFG Act
Not listed
EPBC Act
Not listed

The conservation status of species is listed within Victoria and Australia.

The Department of Environment and Primary Industry (DEPI) Advisory List consists of non-statutory advisory lists of rare or threatened flora and fauna within Victoria.

The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) lists threatened species in Victoria. Under the Act, an Action Statement is produced for each listed species.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s key piece of environmental legislation, listing nationally threatened native species and ecological communities.