Salix babylonica

Babylon Willow
 

Mature Size, Growth, Longevity

Normally gets 30-50' tall and wide in landscape plantings, but the national champion in Virginia is 102' tall and wide. Develops a broad, rounded crown of branches that sweep to the ground. Habit is very graceful and refined. Fast growth rate. Willows tend to be short lived due to various disease and insect problems, plus their tendency to break in wind, ice and heavy snow loads.

Native Range

Native to dry areas of northern China. Introduced in 1730.

Flower and Fruit Details

Dioecious, often female, blooming April-May, with silvery-green flowers in 1" catkins. Not showy. Fruit is a capsule, not showy.

Leaf and Bark Features

Deciduous: Leaves are alternate, simple, lanceolate, or linear lanceolate, 3-6" long, 0.5-0.75" wide, acuminate at the tip, serrulate, light green on top, grayish-green on the underside, with distinct veins. Petiole only 0.5" long. Twigs reddish-brown, not yellow. Fall color is a variable greenish-yellow, not reliable. Notable Bark: New stems often green in color, becoming more tan with age. Bark on old trunks is gray-black, with green or brown branchlets.

Culture and Care

Needs full sun (best) to part shade. Likes moist to wet conditions. Good plant for a rain garden. Prune in early March, if needed. Zone 6 (possibly 5) to 8. Susceptible to numerous disease problems, including blights, powdery mildew, leaf spots, and cankers. Insect pests include aphids, scale, borers, lacebugs and caterpillars.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts

Resistant to deer browsing and black walnut juglone toxicity. Good wildlife value. 4-season interest: Spring, summer, fall & winter. Wood is weak, and tends to crack, so branches may break off in wind storms and ice storms, and may be damaged by heavy snows. Shallow roots may clog drains, sewers and water pipes, and they also make it difficult to grow other plants under the tree. The straight species is rarely found in the U.S. or in European countries; cultivars are more commonly seen.

Suggested Uses

Makes a great specimen at the edge of a stream, pond or lake.

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA

The following taxa are (or were) represented in the collections at Boone County Arboretum. Additional taxa may be available in the trade that are not included here.

  • Salix babylonica 'Crispa' // Curly Babylon Weeping Willow
    Tree. Also sold as 'Annularis', this is a cultivar with spirally curled, leaves, resembling the curling of a ram's horn, thus the common name. From a distance, the coiled, tightly curled leaves appear to be rounded. Height:40'. Zones 5-8. Adaptable to most soils. Yellow flowers in catkins. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Golden fall foliage color. Heat tolerant, wind tolerant, and Verticillium Wilt resistant. Likes full sun. Thrives in clay and damp soil. The smooth, green bark on young stems is showy. Older branches and trunk have brown bark. Can be pruned to remove older, brown branches and encourage more young, green branches, especially if a smaller plant is desired.
    BT001567 - BT001929