Black willow is named for its dark gray-brown bark (Nix, 2010). Twigs are light-red, slender, and flexible. Buds narrow, conical, orange-brown; leaf scars narrow, crescent shaped; broad, flat, often shaggy ridges; pith pale brown, small.Click to see full answer. Hereof, how do I identify a black willow tree?Look for leaves that are very narrow and green on both sides to identify the black willow (S. nigra). The black willow grows 30 to 50 feet tall with a 1-to-2-foot trunk diameter and bears tiny, leaf-like “stipules” on either side of the leaf stalks beside the leaves.Beside above, how fast does a black willow tree grow? With good black willow care, the trees can shoot up some 4 feet (1.2 m.) per year. Black willow information tells us that the trees grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 8, so don’t plan on growing black willows in hot zones. what does a black willow tree look like? The trees usually grow on one, broad trunk, but they can also grow on multiple trunks. Black willow leaves are green, thin and lance-shaped, with serrated margins. Black willows have heavily furrowed, dark brown, gray or black bark, which is how the tree got its common name.What is black willow used for?Ethnobotanical uses of black willow by various Native American tribes include basketry, and treatment of fever, headache, and coughs. The bark of the tree contains salicylic acid, a chemical compound similar to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). It may also be used as an environmental restorative.