A willow is a type of tree known for its long, thin branches that droop gracefully toward the ground, often growing near water. The most recognizable kind is the weeping willow, whose cascading branches create a natural curtain that nearly touches the earth, perfect for hiding underneath or building a secret fort.

Willows grow fast and love moisture, which is why you often find them along riverbanks, ponds, or streams, their roots helping hold the soil in place. Their branches are remarkably flexible: you can bend them without breaking them, which is why people have used willow branches for thousands of years to weave baskets, furniture, and even the walls of houses.

These trees appear throughout literature and art as symbols of grace and sadness. In The Wind in the Willows, the classic children's book, the willow represents the peaceful, natural world along the riverbank where the characters live. The tree's drooping form can look melancholy, like someone with their head bowed, which is why poets describe willows when writing about loss or longing.

Interestingly, willow bark contains a natural pain-relieving chemical that eventually led to the invention of aspirin. For centuries, people chewed willow bark to ease headaches and fever.