Weeping willows, sadly bending their beautiful branches over the water, are familiar to each of us. To date, more than 600 species of this elegant tree are known. However, in Russia you can find no more than two hundred varieties of willow. The most common type is shrubs. It is found in many regions of the country. Shrubs perfectly adapt to any weather conditions, surviving even under adverse conditions. Trees choose their own specific places of growth. Today's article will focus on the weeping willow.
Willow of Babylon
Babylon willow is considered one of the most beautiful trees, which is often chosen to decorate parks in southern Russia. The tree usually grows up to 12 meters high. The trunk is large enough in diameter, maybe more than 1.5 meters. The crown gives a special beauty to the tree: thin branches, like jets of a waterfall, descend to the very ground. Their color is also attractive: reddish or green with a golden tint. The birthplace of the Babylonian willow is considered to be Northern China. Although, according to biologists, this variety was also common in Central China.
However, the tree easily adapted to the harsher Russian climate. It is not for nothing that the willow is called weeping, not only because of the branches lowered to the ground, resembling a mournfully bowed head, but also because this tree grows in damp river valleys or in lowlands on the sands.
Description
Babylonian willow - a tree that loves a lot of sun, but no less moisture. It is resistant to frost, but in severe winters it can freeze a lot. When planting a tree, one should take into account the security of the landing site from winter winds and frosts. It is better to choose those places where the tree will be as closed as possible. The trunk, like the branches, is quite knotty. The older the tree gets, the more powerful its knots become. Pollination occurs in April - May, when not only bees, but also other insects flock to the smell. Willow catkins are thin, with leaves located at the very base.
The root system of a tree is distinctive: it will grow until it finds a place from where it will be fully supplied with the moisture necessary for full growth.
Planting in the garden
Babylonian willow will be a wonderful decoration not only for the park area, but also for the summer cottage or garden plot. Male willows are more suitable for seedlings: they compare favorably with female willows in that during flowering, annoying fluff does not form on the catkins. You can plant willow even in the northern regions. If the tree is still frostbitten, it will recover just as quickly. Babylonian willow is good because outwardlylooks like a beautiful sprawling green tent.
By the way, you can have picnics under the branches of this tree, hiding from the intense heat in the warm season. Which varieties among gardeners are in great demand, we will consider below.
Yves Tortuosa
Experienced gardeners will certainly recommend this variety of this tree as the Babylon Tortuosa willow. Its description is not at all similar to the previous one. It is a shrub up to two meters tall, with strongly twisted branches. The sinuous branches have a golden appearance, which looks very advantageous against the background of bright green foliage. This variety of willow is very demanding in terms of lighting, it needs a lot of sunlight and heat.
But Tortuosa can't stand the cold at all. Therefore, even in the warm season, it is worth protecting the willow from the wind as much as possible. Tortuosa (Babylon willow) is very fond of watering. Due to the accumulation of water in the rhizome, it easily tolerates stagnation. In the northern regions of the country, Tortuosa can freeze in winter to the level to which it will be covered with snow. However, again, thanks to the root system, the shrub quickly recovers.
Iva Crispa
Another interesting variety is Crispa Babylonian willow. Its description will be as follows: it is a small dwarf tree that can grow no more than two meters in height. The special beauty of this variety lies in its leaves. They are dark green, very shiny and look a lot like the small flowers of an ornamental house rose.
The shrub is also kind to the cold, but if it freezes, then, like the previous varieties, it quickly recovers. Willow Crispa is planted as a green fence or decorative labyrinths. It is noteworthy that this variety was obtained by Russian gardeners only about 30 years ago. But today Crispa has gained wide popularity in the most beautiful park areas of our country.
Reproduction
How is the Babylon willow planted? Reproduction occurs with the help of cuttings. Growing a willow is fairly easy. This is the species they say about: stick it in the ground, it will sprout by itself. The only condition is a sufficient amount of moisture. You can also simply place the cutting in water and wait until the first roots appear.
It is important to leave at least 6-8 buds on the handle. Babylonian willow (a photo of the tree can be seen in the article) quickly gets used to a new place. If the tree looks prettier near the water, then shrub species are perfect for decorating the site.
Shrub willow branches will intertwine over time stronger and stronger, forming a natural living and almost impassable fence. When planting several willows on a garden plot, it is important to remember that the distance between them must be large enough, otherwise the crowns of these magnificent trees will not be able to fully open up, showing all their natural beauty.
