Salix babylonica

Origin: China, East Asia

Botanical characteristics: It is a tree of medium size, fast-growing, reaching 10 meters in height. It has a very grey grooved bark and a wide weeping crown with long thin green secondary branches, touching the ground. Leaves are linear or strictly lanceolate, their margins are serrated, light green on the upper side, grey-green below. It is a dioecious plant with male and female inflorescences in pendulous catkins on separated plants. The yellow male catkins are showier than the female ones, which are green.

Agronomic and environmental characteristics: It is suitable for moist, marshy soils, preferably the clay or calcareous ones. It has an high resistance to water stagnation, salinity and air pollution.

Use: It is cultivated throughout the territory and is used as ornamental plant for its growth habit and elegance. It is often found in the gardens in the English manner or in the “Romantic Garden”, located along the lake shores. It is mainly used as isolated species in parks and large gardens, even in groups, along the river banks, along lakes and moist areas. It is suitable for urban green areas, too.