Weeping Willow Salix babylonica
Other plants called Weeping Willow:
Previously known as:
- Salix matsudana
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAL-iks bab-il-LON-ik-uh
- Description
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Large landscape tree with pendulous, weeping branches, a short trunk, and a broad rounded crown. It is native to East Asia but has naturalized throughout NC. It is one of the first trees to leaf out in spring and the last to drop leaves in fall.
It grows best in full sun and prefers moist soil. It is effective at edges of ponds and lakes. In residential and commercial sites, the rootlets will invade a crack in a pipe and proliferate, clogging it and backing water up for major repair costs. It is often mislabeled in the nursery trade.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to canker. Suffers from brittle wood.
Quick ID
- Small tree with weeping, pendulous branches
- Leaves toothed, linear-lanceolate
- Leaves green above, grayish-glaucous below
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Scarlet Curls'
- 'Tristis'
- 'Umbraculifera'
Red, young wood, with age changes to an eye-catching golden yellow
- 'Tristis'
- 'Scarlet Curls', 'Tristis', 'Umbraculifera', v. pekinensis 'Tortuosa'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Scarlet Curls'
- 'Tristis'
- 'Umbraculifera'
Red, young wood, with age changes to an eye-catching golden yellow
- 'Tristis'
- 'Scarlet Curls', 'Tristis', 'Umbraculifera', v. pekinensis 'Tortuosa'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Salix
- Species:
- babylonica
- Family:
- Salicaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- N. & E. China to Korea
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant supports Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) larvae which has two to three broods from May-September. Adult butterflies feed on decaying matter, aphid honeydew, and nectar from composite flowers. Members of the Salix genus support the following specilized bees: Andrena (Parandrena) andrenoides, Andrena (Thysandrena) bisalicis, Andrena (Tylandrena) erythrogaster, Andrena (Andrena) frigida, Andrena (Micrandrena) illinoiensis, Andrena (Andrena) macoupinensis, Andrena (Trachandrena) mariae, Andrena (Parandrena) nida, Andrena (Micrandrena) nigrae, Andrena (Micrandrena) salictaria, Andrena (Parandrena) wellesleyana.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wind Shimmer
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This tree is mildly resistant to damage by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Rounded
- Weeping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- A capsule that releases many tiny, down-covered seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Insignificant
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- .8 inch long catkins that are .15 inch thick. Not showy.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Salix babylonica is one of the first trees to leaf out in spring and last to drop leaves in fall. The leaves are alternate, simple, and linear-lanceolate. They are 3-6 inches long, acuminate, cuneate, and serrulate. The leaves are deep green above, and grayish-glaucous beneath, glabrous; stipules are slender, deciduous.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Scaly
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in a single cap like scale
- Stem Description:
- Reddish brown stems in winter provide interest.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Water Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Wet Soil
