Cultivars of Salix Babylonica and other Weeping Willows    (View PDF)

Frank S. Santamour, Jr. and Alice Jacot McArdle

Abstract: Salix babylonica, the classical "weeping willow" from China, is now regarded as including S. matsudana. The species is represented by several valid cultivars, including 'Babylon', which is proposed here for the first time for the female clone upon which the original species description may have been based. Since 'Babylon' is not cold hardy in many areas of the United States, the most commonly planted "weeping" willows are actually hybrids between 'Babylon' and S. alba or S. fragilis. Unfortunately, many of these hybrids suffer from cold-related twig dieback, their nomenclature is hopelessly confused, and several different clones may be growing under the same cultivar name. It is proposed that most of the older names used to denote cultivars and selections be abandoned and new names, based on plants propagated from living, documented specimens, be used in the future.

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https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.1988.044