Salice di Babilonia

Class

Dicotyledons

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Salicaceae or Salicaceae

Order

Malpighiales

Genus

Salix

Species

babylonica

Description

A deciduous tree with a characteristic drooping habit that lends elegance and lightness to outdoor spaces such as gardens, parks and watercourse margins where it takes on the role of a focal point with high landscape value. Easy to grow, it withstands the winter cold requiring cool soil and correct pruning of branches.

Variety description

A medium-sized tree with winding, irregular, cascading branches that form a broad, bell-shaped crown, characteristic of the species. Elegant appearance with light green leaves, turning yellow in autumn. Modest flowering. Excellent adaptability to various types of soils and growing environments, including urban. Requires a sunny exposure and tolerates partly shady areas. Develops a shallow root system with many secondary roots; prefers clay and sandy soils with good moisture content, but grows well in all soil types that are not too dry and compact. Typically ornamental tree, suitable for park areas, gardens, watercourse rows. Resistant to pathogens and requires restraining pruning, which must respect the characteristic shape of the foliage.

Curiosities and special features

The common name, Weeping Willow, refers to the characteristic habitus assumed by the slender pendulous branches that tend to project towards the ground like a waterfall.

Origin and distribution

A native species of the temperate climate range extending from northern and eastern China to Korea; from the 18th century onwards it was spread throughout Europe as an ornamental plant.

Leaf

The leaves have an elongated, lanceolate lamina with a finely serrated margin.

Flowering period

It flowers early from early spring to late spring for a duration of 10 to 20 days, displaying flowers in inflorescences called catkins; the weeping willow is a dioecious species, i.e. the female and male catkins are present on separate specimens.

Leaf colour

Pigmented hue turning to golden yellow in autumn.

Plant height

The height of the plant varies from 5 to 20 m depending on the growing conditions. The weeping willow is generally defined as a second-sized tree.

Lifespan

Polyennial deciduous plant.

Where to plant

Due to its size and developed habit, it is suitable as a tree for use in large pots, open field

Stem

The stem is woody with longitudinally striped bark.

Growth

Variety with medium to vigorous growth.

Plant habit

The developed habitus is deciduous with a broad, pendulous crown.

Branching

The developed branching is abundant with long, slender, pendulous secondary branches.

PH

The ideal soil pH for willow is between 6.0 and 7.0.

Soil preparation

Before transplanting at the end of autumn, choose the most suitable location, depending on the needs of the plant, and use a spade to make the planting hole at least one third larger than the root or root ball volume. It is advisable to remove weeds and bulky pebbles, and also to bury organic matter.

Sun exposure

For proper growth, choose full sun exposures at the transplanting stage, ensuring an adequate water supply during the hottest, sultry summers.

Ideal climate and temperature

The ideal temperature is between 0.0 and 30 °C.

Use

For the unique elegance conferred by its bearing, it is appreciated in:

Outdoor ornamental Outdoor Landscape Design Landscaping

Hardiness

Ahighly hardy variety, it withstands cold winter climates well.

Soil

The weeping willow is adapted to different soil conditions, however, the ideal soil for proper root and vegetative development is medium-textured, fresh, deep and with organic substance.

Difficulty

Willow cultivation is easy with an overall average level of management effort once the plant is well established in the new planting site.

Growing tips

Some specific cultivation tips for best growth and development performance:

Balanced fertilisation Plant that adapts very well to cold winter climates, and also thrives in frozen soil conditions. Correct pruning

Indiscriminate pruning of stems and branches by means of "pruning" not only leads to an alteration of the natural habitus of the plant, but also to a lower resistance to biotic and abiotic agents as well as to a greater danger of failure of the entire specimen.

Planting

For transplanting, adopt an average density of 2000 plants/ha, choosing healthy specimens, free from abiotic and biotic stress conditions. Always identify the planting site in advance in relation to the growth conditions required by the species according to the principle of 'the right plant in the right place'.

It is advisable to prune roots that are too long when transplanting and to reduce ramifications if they are very dense, proceed by positioning the root ball in the previously dug planting hole, keeping the plant's collar off the soil surface, also water the roots with water and mix with symbiont fungi or mycorrhizae.

Pruning

Maintain proper pruning of the branches and foliage, which grow vigorously; containment pruning must respect the characteristic shape of the foliage. In addition, carry out small pruning operations to remove dried out or damaged parts.

Propagation

Willow can be propagated by seed, cuttings and grafting.

Watering

After planting, water the soil well and assist the plant to allow it to develop its root system in the best possible way in the new site, keeping it at a constant humidity free of water stagnation and dryness. Afterwards, prevent desiccation and water saturation conditions by supplying quantities with frequencies and doses also commensurate with the climatic trend during the different seasons.

Fertilising

When preparing the soil for transplanting, carry out a background fertilisation using organic or slow-release chemical fertiliser specifically for ornamental plants; then apply a balanced fertiliser for ornamental species to the soil, on average once a month during the spring-summer period, to encourage proper vegetative development.

Edibility for humans

Non-edible ornamental Species.

Tip

The successful rooting of the plants depends very much on the similarity of the agronomic characteristics of the cultivation nursery with those of the nursery where the plants purchased by the gardener (which he does not intend to use immediately after purchase) and the customer's garden for final planting. Prolonged storage of tree and shrub plants in containers or in the gardener's company requires training cultivation care and eventual transplanting or repotting to maintain normal growth. At the end of cultivation prior to uprooting and planting the root ball soil must be temperate and never too wet to maintain a root ball with compact roots; tie branches well to prevent breakage and reduce the volume of occupation during transport and planting. Water well immediately after final planting.