brittle willow.

Medium to very large trees, with broad crowns and spreading branches.

The twigs and branches of this species are brittle, and branches up to 3cm in diameter snap with ease. Leaves are 70-150mm long, slim, with small or no stipules.

Found in growing alongside streams, rivers, and ditches. Very common.

The root system of this species is deep and widespread. This feature would make it of value if used in areas where deep soil failures are a problem. But it is also this feature that makes it undesirable to use on small streams as the rootmass can constrict and entrench the stream channel. Grows readily from
cuttings, but harvest and transport of older stems is a problem because of its fragility. Crack willow coppices well and stems between 1 to 3 years of age are not as fragile as older stems which make them easier to work with. This species is very common, frequently colonizing disturbed stream channels. In projects were the use of native materials is not a concern, this species will work well on large rivers.

This species also frequently hybridizes with Salix alba (white willow), and S. nigra. The resulting hybrids are quite similar to S. fragilis. Crack willow and its hybrids with white willow are commonly mistaken for Black Willow.