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Salix babylonica
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

weeping willow

A deciduous tree, to 12m high and wide, with a spreading crown of weeping branches. Leaves are long, narrow and finely toothed, green with blue-grey undersides. Slender catkins are produced alongside the new leaves in spring

Other common names
weeping willow
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Size
Ultimate height
8–12 metres
Time to ultimate height
20–50 years
Ultimate spread
Wider than 8 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green Grey Silver Green Grey Silver
Summer Green Grey Silver
Autumn Yellow
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Salicaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Pendulous weeping
Genus

Salix are deciduous shrubs and trees of diverse habit, with simple leaves and tiny flowers in catkins, male and female usually on separate plants. Some are valued for their brightly coloured winter shoots, others for their foliage or showy male catkins

Name status

Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any deep, moist soil in full sun. Avoid shallow chalk soil. Branches can be brittle and susceptible to wind damage

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Architectural
  • Wildlife gardens
Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, willow leaf beetle, sawflies and willow scale insects

Diseases

May be susceptible to willow anthracnose, honey fungus and rust diseases

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