terrestrialeasyFreshwater

Weeping Willow

Salix babylonica

Also known as Salix babylonica, Babylon Willow

Plantae›Tracheophyta›Magnoliopsida›Malpighiales›Salicaceae

Grown emersed like pothos — a rooted branch or cutting sits with its roots in the tank water and its foliage in the air, where it works as a fast, hardy nitrate-absorbing biofilter. Willow roots readily in water (the cuttings even release a natural rooting hormone), and unlike tropical houseplants it tolerates cool water, so it suits unheated and coldwater tanks. It is a large tree, so expect to prune and re-trim the emersed growth; it may tint the water faintly with tannins.

Terrestrial / emersed plant

Grown with its roots in the tank water and its leaves in the air: a living nitrate filter, not a submerged aquarium plant. Give it bright indirect light; no aquarium CO₂ or substrate needed.

Where it's from

Native to China North-Central, China Southeast, Inner Mongolia, Korea, Manchuria and Qinghai

Recorded as introduced in Afghanistan, Alabama, Argentina Northwest, Arkansas and 50 more places

At a glance

Light: Bright indirect to full sun
Growth: Fast
Placement: Emersed — roots in water, branches and leaves in air
Temp: 50–82°F; 10–28°C
pH: 6.0–7.5
GH: 36–357 ppm; 2–20 dGH

Tanks growing this

Growing in 1 tank

1 tank shared publicly.

Forest Giant

@plantedscapes

Compatible livestock

See all 4

Shubunkin Goldfish

A standout pairing — willow tolerates the cooler water goldfish like and mops up the heavy nitrate they produce, where most emersed houseplants want it warmer.

excellent

Betta

Roots shade the surface and export the nitrate a betta's waste produces.

excellent

Red Cherry Shrimp

Shrimp graze biofilm off the submerged root mass and shelter in it.

excellent

Neon Tetra

Peaceful schoolers that enjoy the cleaner water without disturbing the roots.

good

Member photos

Vote for the cover

Photos are added when members log a tank with this species and upload a photo in their tank journal. Add your own tank to contribute.

by @plantedscapes

Common diseases 2Root / crown rot, Yellowing leaves

Root / crown rot

Symptoms

Mushy, blackened, or foul-smelling roots or submerged stem; drooping, yellowing leaves — almost always from submerging the foliage instead of just the roots.

Treatment

Keep only the roots underwater and the branches/leaves in the air. Trim rotted tissue with clean scissors, improve surface circulation and oxygen, and let it re-establish.

Yellowing leaves

Symptoms

Pale or yellowing foliage, slow or leggy growth.

Treatment

Give brighter light and dose a little liquid fertilizer — in a lightly stocked tank the water may lack the nutrients for vigorous emersed growth.

Legality

No state or federal restrictions on record.

Not legal advice, and possibly incomplete or out of date. Rules vary by state and change over time; check with your state wildlife or agriculture agency before buying, keeping or shipping it.

The care information here is written with AI help, so it can contain mistakes. Spot one? Tell us and we'll fix it. Native range: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) (CC BY 4.0).