Salix babylonica - weeping willow (forest honeycomb)

Genus of about 300 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, generally dioecious, present in a variety of habitats ranging from meadows, to river banks, to sand dunes to hills throughout the world, with the exception of Australia. Salix babylonica is a deciduous tree, up to 8-10 meters tall, native to central Asia, but widespread in the wild in much of the Mediterranean area. It has a short, stocky trunk, which bears a large oval crown, often very untidy, characterized by long pendulous branches, which sometimes reach the ground; the foliage is bright green, grayish on the underside, lanceolate in shape, very elongated, with a serrated edge; the male flowers are long yellow catkins, while the female flowers are small greenish inflorescences, both bloom on different trees, at the beginning of spring, when the leaves emerge. On female plants, the flowers are followed by fruits, small capsules containing many feathery seeds, which spread through the air in summer. A very elegant and fast-growing tree, much loved over the centuries.

Pedoclimatic requirements

It loves sunny positions; it does not fear the cold and tolerates very intense and prolonged frosts without problems. Constant and regular watering, they fear drought a lot, in fact, they are often planted near lakes or watercourses, in constantly wet soils. They prefer rich and deep soils, not excessively draining; they can often be planted in places where many other essences would suffer, or where the water stagnates and the soil is constantly soaked.

Botanical Information

Botanical Name: Salix babylonica

Family: Salicaceae