Salix babylonica 'Oberli'
(babylonica = a mistake by Linnaeus, as he assumed
that it originated in that part of the world.)
Oberli Willow
In 2017 a Swiss willow enthusiast from Boise, Idaho named Walter Buechler allowed me to take cuttings of a Salix babylonica that he received from another Swiss Salicologist, Heinz Oberli from Wattwil (whose collection of 100 Salix species probably no longer exists). I did not expect it to survive our Zone 3 winters, but lo and behold it not only survived, it thrived and is the most vigorous Salix amongst a collection of around 50 willows from Walter. So I had to find out about how it could possible survive Vermont's bitter winters. Walter told me that Herr Oberli collected cuttings of this plant from the Langtang Valley in Nepal at 3450 meters (11,320ft), the reason for its unusual hardiness. After consulting Walter about a clonal name for this selection he requested that it should be called 'Oberli' in recognition of the great Salicologist who made this extraordinary find. In Spring 2019 I will have a few cuttings of this clone available, as I want to use the rest to build up stock of this great selection. Salix babylonica is sold in North America but it is not hardy in zones colder than Zone 6, there are many other weeping willows sold under this name in Northern States that are mis-labelled. Hardy to Zone 4.
USES: the ultimate weeping willow!
Salix babylonica 'Oberli' at 18 months from cuttings in the nursery.
The willows beside them were planted at the same time.
Simple Tunnel/Arch 10ft
CODE: KTU10 Simple Tunnel 10ft
This comes in 10 ft lengths, 5ft wide and 5ft high
The kit to make this tunnel includes the following:
18 heavy rods ~96in for verticals
32 medium rods 84-96in for weavers
6 medium rods for horizontals
2 pieces 12x2ft 6 mil black polyethylene
marked where to make holes for the rods.
24 rust-resistant metal staples to hold down the plastic
100 rubber ties
Building directions
PRICE: $380.00
Shipping charges will be calculated and invoiced when ready to ship.
Simple Tunnel/Arch 10ft
CODE: KTU10 Simple Tunnel 10ft
This comes in 10 ft lengths, 5ft wide and 5ft high
The kit to make this tunnel includes the following:
18 heavy rods ~96in for verticals
32 medium rods 84-96in for weavers
6 medium rods for horizontals
2 pieces 12x2ft 6 mil black polyethylene
marked where to make holes for the rods.
24 rust-resistant metal staples to hold down the plastic
100 rubber ties
Building directions
PRICE: $380.00
Shipping charges will be calculated and invoiced when ready to ship.
Notes on Salix babylonica.
In June 2018 Michael visited Yunnan China with a group from the North American Rock Garden Society. He saw many, many willows in the wild (Yunnan has over 100 native species). The thing what startled him the most though was seeing Salix babylonica planted as a street tree in many of the cities we visited. Sometimes it was planted alongside the curly willow (Salix babylonica 'Tortuosa') and an upright selection with weeping young growth that he had never even heard of! We have been using the Japanese species name Salix matsudana for forms of curly willows and the Globe or Navajo Willow. However, seeing them in China made Michael realize that he was mistaken to do so and that curly willows are all selections of Salix babylonica (except for Salix x erythroflexuosa, as that is a hybrid). Because of the variations in other curly willows, some of them may be hybrids also. This nomenclature has recently confirmed by Dr Irina Belyaeva, the now retired Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Herbarium and a foremost expert on the genus Salix. This being said, we have now changed all selections listed as Salix matsudana to Salix babylonica.
A mature plant of Salix babylonica 'Oberli' photographed by Walter Buechler in August 2019 in his Boise ID garden. As you can see it becomes a weeping willow as it ages.
WillowWorld
of Michael Dodge