Salix Sepulcralis Group

The Salix Sepulcralis Group is a cultivar Group containing all cultivars of hybrids between Salix alba and Salix babylonica. It was first described by L. Simonkai in 1890 from trees growing in Hungary. The Group contains both weeping and non-weeping cultivars though the best known of its cultivars is 'Chrysocoma', the most widely grown Weeping tree..^[1]
Some of the cultivars are hybrids of S. babylonica var. matsudana 'Tortuosa' and have inhertied from its parent the twisted and contorted branches as well as being more cold-tolerant as S. babylonica var. matsudana is native to Northern China and Korea.

Description

Trees, usually nor more than 12m. Leaves finely serrulate, pubescent or silky when young. Ovaries shortly flask-shaped, not much longer than the subtending catkin scale.

Synonymy

• Salix × sepulcralis Simonk., Természetrajzi Füz. 12: 157 (1890).

Included Cultivars

• 'Caradoc': Upright habit with twisted orange-yellow winter branches.
• 'Chrysocoma': Weeping habit with golden-yellow winter branches.
• 'Dart's Snake': Upright habit with twisted dark green winter branches.
• 'Erythroflexuosa': Semi-weeping habit with twisted orange-red winter branches.
• 'Salamonii': Weeping habit with olive-brown winter branches.
• 'Sepulcralis'^[2]: Upright habit with orange-brown winter branches.

References

1. ^ Meikle, R.D. (1984). Willows and Populars of Great Britain and Ireland p. 52-59.
2. ^ Santamour, F.S. & McArdle, A.J. (1988). Cultivars of Salix babylonica and other Weeping Willows. Journal of Arboriculture 14: 180-184

External links

• Kew Gardens, species page