sold out
for Spring 2018
Salix alba 'St Oedenrode'
alba = white
Upright White Willow
A narrow upright tree that the Holden Arboretum in Ohio kindly shared with us; perhaps the narrowest growing willow tree available! Their specimen is perhaps 30ft tall and is 6-7 ft across at its widest! Our plants are about 10ft tall in two years from cuttings. The foliage is similar to the Cricket Bat Willow (S. a. 'Caerulea') in that it is greener than the white species. A row of these would remind one of Italian gardens! This plant originated in the Netherlands and was named after the town where it was found. This cultivar found it's way to the National Willow Collection in the UK and from there it went into trials with the Plant Introduction Station of the USDA. It is from them that the Holden Arboretum received this plant. It is noted that this tree may reach 60ft at maturity—not for the small garden unless you want to screen out something tall and ugly! Young stems are greenish in winter, but are reddish bronze when young. Flower buds are flattened with the tip curling away from the stem. Hardy to Zone 3.
USES: Makes an imposing vertical specimen tree; great for limited spaces and to replace the disease prone Lombardy Poplar.
Young foliage is green with silver hairs causing the leaves appear silver.
Young plants in the nursery already displaying the upright habit of this selection. These are two years old from 10in cuttings.
This is the single tree in the Holden Arboretum's most northerly display area.
It is uniquely fastigiate in the species, others may be broadly conical, but this is the narrowest!
Young red stems in October covered with fine hairs, especially behind next year's flower buds. Leaves also covered in silky hairs.
A single shoot showing off its long tall habit!
Looking up the Holden tree. Quite a sight!
WillowWorld
of Michael Dodge