Willow Water: Mother Nature’s Rooting Hormone

A willow, the genus Salix, is a powerhouse of productivity for gardeners. For the propagation of cuttings, it’s a natural alternative to powdered or liquid rooting hormones. With 350 Salix species worldwide, tree to shrub-size, a willow is easy to find for making your own rooting hormone.  And willow water is inexpensive.

How is a willow able to provide a non-synthetic rooting hormone?  Many folks know willows as the plant that provided willow bark as a pain relief medicinal. In the 20^th century, pharmaceutical manufacturers marketed a willow phytohormone, salicylic acid, as Aspirin. Willow also contains a powerful auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). This auxin hormone helps plants to grow cells, and pushes apical (bud) dominance and development. The University of California Botanical Garden notes that IAA stimulates root growth by reprogramming cells in the stem (of a cutting) to grow roots.

Making Willow Water

What gardener doesn’t want an easy task? (I recommend using protective gloves as you’ll be handling plant material with hormones.)

• Gather 10-15 approximately pencil size-diameter, 12–18-inch willow branches from any willow with green or yellow bark (younger  growth). I prune these from branches above or from suckers at the base and make a diagonal pruning cut. Consider rinsing the willows to remove pollen, dust or wildfire residue.
• Strip all leaves.
• Cut branches into 1-inch pieces.
• Place 1-inch willow twigs into a clean glass jar. 
• Fill with unchlorinated and clean water. Bottled spring water is an option.

There are two methods:

• Pour boiling water over the twigs and let stand, covered, for about 24 hours. OR
• Pour water over the twigs and let stand, covered, for about 48-72 hours.
• When time is up, strain the twigs and discard the pieces to the garden or compost.
• The willow water is now ready. Cover and use within 60 days from preparation.
• Label your willow water jar with “Willow Water,” date produced, date to use by (60 days), and any other details such as cold water, boiling water, willow species, etc.

 

Using Willow Water for Cutting Propagation

Pour a small amount, 0.5–1 inch, of prepared willow water into a jar, then place prepared cutting bottoms to soak in the willow water for several hours or more. As with synthetic rooting hormones, the cutting bases don’t need endless time to draw up those hormones. Extra willow water after finishing the cuttings’ soak can be tossed into the garden.

Willow facts

Most species like water and are well-adapted to wetlands, rivers and stream banks. In nature, willows are renowned for large root systems, chock full of small to huge roots. Don’t place willow plantings near building foundations, sidewalks or other areas where safety could be threatened.

Salix species are vigorous growers. Riparian restoration projects often hammer willow stakes in place to have new trees grow very quickly. A willow replaces pruned material quickly, so pruning a small amount of willow branches does no harm.

There’s an additional benefit if planting a new willow: The National Wildlife Federation lists it as a keystone species shrub for our two regions, Mediterranean CA- Ecoregion 11 (the Rogue Valley generally falls into this region by climate and soils) and Northwestern Forested Mountains – Ecoregion 6. A host plant for at least 256 species of butterfly caterpillars, willows also support 26 pollen-reliant specialist bee species.

Though any willow is perfect for making willow water, the Rogue Valley’s native species, Salix lasiandra (Shining Willow) and Salix scouleriana (Scouler’s Willow) are adapted to the region. For gardeners living in drier, less irrigated areas, Scouler’s willow is unusual, thriving away from moist areas.

References:

https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/2010/12/15/home-made-plant-rooting-hormone-willow-water/

 

© Maxine Cass for all photos