Common Name: Wisconsin weeping willow
Type: Tree
Family: Salicaceae
Native Range: Garden origin
Zone: 4
Height: 30.00 to 50.00 feet
Spread: 30.00 to 50.00 feet
Bloom Time: April to June
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Rain Garden
Flower: Insignificant
Tolerate: Deer, Erosion, Wet Soil, Black Walnut
Culture
Grow in average, medium to wet, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Thrives in moist soils. Avoid dry soils. Prefers full sun. Prune as needed in late winter to early spring. This species may not be reliably winter hardy in the St. Louis area, and is best grown in the southern parts of the U.S.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Salix × pendulina, commonly called pendulous willow or weeping willow, is a hybrid cross between S. babylonica as female parent and either S. fragilis or S. euxina as male parent. This is a dioecious tree that grows to 30-50’ tall and as wide with a short trunk, wide crown and pendulous branches that dip to the ground. This hybrid is more commonly planted in the U. S. today than Salix babylonica. Flowering catkins appear in April-May, but are not showy. Branches are yellowish-brown to gray-brown. Branchlets are typically yellow to yellowish-brown. Long, acuminate, green leaves (to 6” long) are narrow lanceolate to elliptic to linear with serrulate margins. This hybrid willow can be a spectacular specimen at the edge of a stream or lake with its branches gracefully weeping down and touching the water. However, it is can be difficult to site this tree in a residential landscape because of its size and habits. Variable fall color is usually an undistinguished greenish-yellow.
Genus name is the Latin name for this plant.
Specific epithet comes from the Latin word pendulinus meaning hanging in reference to the weeping branches.
Problems
Susceptible to numerous disease problems including blights, powdery mildew, leaf spots and cankers. It also is visited by many insect pests including aphids, scale, borers, lacebugs and caterpillars. Wood is weak and tends to crack. Branches may be damaged by ice and snow. Litter from leaves, twigs and branches may be a problem. Shallow roots may clog sewers or drains and make gardening underneath the trees difficult.
Uses
Weeping form of this tree is quite beautiful when the tree is planted in appropriate settings. This willow may be grown most effectively in moist soils along streams, ponds or other water bodies. It is generally not recommended for use as a specimen in residential landscapes because of its susceptibility to breakage, potential insect/disease problems, invasive roots which seek out cracks in sewer and water pipes, litter potential, and overall mature size (it can develop into a substantial medium sized tree).