Name: Weeping willow
Latin Name: Salix × sepulcralis*
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Did you know?
A weeping willow is a fast grower and can put on more than 1 metre of height in a single year when it has plenty of water.
Information:
The weeping willow is a tree with real personality. Its long, slender branches trail down towards the ground like a curtain of green, and in a breeze they sway and ripple. The narrow leaves are among the first to appear in spring and the last to fall in autumn, and in winter the bare, golden-yellow twigs still catch the eye.
Willows love water, and you’ll find several weeping willows around the pond in Horsham Park, where their thirsty roots can reach the damp soil they need. The roots spread widely, which is why the tree is best planted well away from buildings and drains. The trailing branches make a sheltered, shady space for insects and birds, and the spring catkins (the fluffy flowers) give bees an early meal when little else is in bloom. Look out for the Cricket Bat Willow too, another willow in the same part of the park.
*Most weeping willows in Britain are hybrids, a cross between two willow species, so they can be tricky to tell apart. We think ours are Salix × sepulcralis, but if you know your willows and can tell us more, please let us know.
