Field ManualAll plants

Photo: Kymi, via Wikimedia CommonsLicense: CC BY 3.0

Bullata crack willow

Salix fragilis L.

Family: Salicaceae

Pet & Human Safety

People: No hazard foundPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them
Hazardous parts
Not yet checked.
Preparation
n/a
Hazard type
Not yet checked.
Hazard route
Not stated by our sources (not a clearance). Detail: no human-hazard statement
How complete this information is
The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets
No ASPCA entry found.

ASPCA has no page for Salix fragilis. Do not treat as pet-safe.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones

zones 4-9 per Utah State (species); USask writes its tree list for a Zone 3 garden (list-wide statement, not a plant-specific rating)

Light

Shade tolerance low (Utah State); USask: open lawn space.

Water needs

high high is a plain-language reading: Utah State says it prefers abundant water and rates drought tolerance low; USask says willows grow quickly as long as they have enough to drink and suit a soggy site. Always finger-test two inches down.

Mature size

Utah State (species): up to 50 ft tall; fast growth

Soil & Drainage
Pruning & Flush Rhythm
Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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Anatomy & Guilds

Botanical Anatomy & Characteristics

How the flowers and leaves are built and which pollinators visit, where we have them.

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Field Doctor

Field Doctor

What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.

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Vintage Plates

Vintage Plates

Old botanical drawings from public libraries are in the app, for plants where we have them.

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Sources

  1. Utah State University Extension TreeBrowser - Willow, Crack (Salix fragilis)
  2. University of Saskatchewan Gardening (Patterson Garden Arboretum) - Trees for the Urban Yard (PDF)
  3. Kew POWO/WCVP - accepted-name record
  4. ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list

How we choose sources

Wishlists live in the app

Wishlists are part of the Plot & Petal app, which is coming soon. Nothing is added to a wishlist from this page.

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