White willow 'Tristis'

Synonyms: Salix alba 'Tristis' ambig., Salix alba 'Vitellina-Tristis', yellow weeping willow, Salix alba 'Vitellina Pendula', golden weeping willow White willow 'Tristis' (Salix alba 'Tristis') – one of the most popular forms of the species White willow of the genus Willow (Salix L.) of the family Salicaceae. The form was obtained by the botanist Seringe in 1810, at Bauman's nursery in Alsace (France).

It is a deciduous tree 15-20 (80) m in height. The crown is picturesque, weeping, spreading, with pendulous shoots, reaching 15-20 m in diameter. The bark is yellowish, smooth, later becoming brown and fissured. Shoots are yellow, acquiring reddish-orange shades in the autumn-winter period.

Leaves are elongate-lanceolate, green above, silvery beneath, 8-12 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, pointed, with a finely toothed margin. They unfold early. In autumn they turn yellow-green.

Flowers in April-May, simultaneously with leaf emergence or after it. Catkins are yellow. Blooms abundantly. A good honey plant.

Hardiness zone: 5b (-23°С)

Location: light-demanding, very moisture-loving, requires drainage. Undemanding and very hardy, tolerates urban conditions well.

Soil: grows well on sandy soils, also grows on calcareous soils.

Planting: Planting is best done in spring before bud burst. When establishing a "willow bed" (stands of willow) it is recommended to cultivate the soil in autumn to a depth of 30-80 cm, depending on its fertility and dryness. The topsoil layer should be turned down. Recommended spacing between seedlings should be no less than 0.6-2 m, depending on the species. Planting depth – 40-70 cm. Transplanting is recommended up to 3-4 years of age. On heavy soils drainage of crushed stone or sand with a layer of 20-30 cm is recommended.

Pruning: tolerates trimming and pruning better than other species; pruning is recommended in early spring.

Care: practically requires no care.

Propagation: by cuttings and seeds. Seeds lose viability after 10 days. Winter cuttings rarely root; green cuttings treated with Kornevin root 100%.

Pests: Cecidomya saliciperda, Cecidomya salicis, Tortrix (Helias) Chlorana, Agrotis vallugera, Bombyx Salicis, Curculio crux, Phratora vulgarissima, Phratora vitellinae, Galer ucacapreae, Galer lincola, Arvicola terrestris.

Diseases: affected by fungal diseases – fungi of the genera Melampsora, Rhytisma, Erysiphe.

Uses: used in solitary and group plantings, for decoration and bank/shoreline stabilization, in tree-shrub groups, on flooded sites. Creates dense shade under the crown.