Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the soil moisture level.
- Inspect the leaves for small beetles or larvae.
- Look for sunken dark lesions on the branches.
Likely causes
Drought Stress
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips of the leaves turn brown and crispy while the rest of the leaf remains green. This happens when the tree cannot pull enough water from the soil to reach the leaf edges.
What to do: Increase your watering frequency to ensure the soil stays wet. Water deeply to reach the entire root system.
Willow Leaf Beetle
PossibleHow to tell: It is less common for this plant, but beetle feeding can cause leaf edges to brown and skeletonize. Look for small metallic beetles or larvae on the undersides of the leaves.
What to do: Pick the beetles off by hand if the infestation is small. For larger issues, use a gentle insecticidal soap spray on the foliage.
Find out what's wrong with your black willow
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
If the browning continues to move inward toward the leaf stem, the tree is under significant stress. It is normal for a small amount of browning during extreme heat or wind.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the soil consistently wet and monitor for beetle activity during the spring and summer.
Black willow: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your black willow and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
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Questions people ask
- Will the brown tips turn green again?
- No, the brown parts are dead tissue and will not recover. Focus on keeping the rest of the leaf healthy.
- Is my tree dying?
- Brown tips are usually a warning sign of stress, not a death sentence. Adjust your watering and the tree should recover.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Black willow
Back to the Black willow guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.