El weeping willow It is one of the species that can be located almost all over the world, it is characterized by its resistance to various ecosystems and its waterfall appearance thanks to its long leaves and thin branches. In this post some characteristics of this species, its care and its uses will be given.
Weeping Willow Tree
The scientific name of the weeping willow is salix babylonica, a species that was found for the first time in Asia specifically in northern China, then it was distributed throughout the world starting in Europe, from there it reached Africa, then specimens began to be seen in the United States until it reached several nations in America from the South as people carried them on their travels.
This distribution gives a first characteristic about this Tree and it is that it has managed to adapt to different ecosystems, it has been planted in locations with really different climates, for example, in southern Africa it is found near rivers, in the United States it is found in places with a temperate climate and like those examples many plus. Its resistance to different types of climates allowed it to be distributed throughout the world and become popular for its attractive appearance.
Regarding the taxonomic classification that this species has, it belongs to the genus salix, one of those grouped in the family Salicaceae, order: Malpighials, class: Magnoliopside of the division Magnoliophyta, all these levels belong to the realm Plant, one of the five kingdoms that are commonly managed by the biologist community to organize and classify living beings that exist and have already become extinct.
Some people have made hybrids with other species that are also part of the genus salix, An example of this is the Aurea tree, which is quite striking during the fall because its leaves turn yellow, another equally striking example is the "Crispa" species, which has that name because its leaves curve to form curls all over the tree. tree.
In fact, some biologists have argued that the original species can no longer really be found in China, but that the species that have been distributed throughout the world are nothing more than hybrids. However, this has not been fully verified, taking into account that the characteristics of many extant species are very similar to those that were described for the original weeping willow.
The extinction of this species is not really something that can be very likely considering its great distribution and that its multiplication is generally done with cuttings, so that the new plants are identical to the original plant.
Uses
In various parts of the world this tree can be used for different things, in Mexico for example, people use it to build fences or to buy firewood, in other places its wood is used to make drawers or to make the pulp used for paper , it can also be planted simply to have this species at home as decoration or to shade other plants, since its growth makes it a tall tree compared to other species that are smaller.
In Africa it is planted near rivers because it has been proven that it prevents the erosion of soil and rocks, which is called "erosion", when planted near a river it can protect that part of the ecosystem in situations in which these bodies of water overflow, so that collaboration with its environment has led it to be considered by many botanists around the world. Hence it is found in so many places.
Another ecological function is that this tree protects other species from the wind, this is achieved by farmers when they plant them side by side to form a protective curtain. In this sense, several ways of planting them are observed: isolated from other species to make it stand out, together with other small species to give them a shadow or in rows to create a windbreak curtain. Either way, they add great beauty to the space they are in, as long as they stay healthy.
It is important to keep in mind that they are trees that have a certain fragility in their branches, since they are not as thick as those of other species. This does not prevent them from protecting crops from the wind, but they can be a slight danger if they are planted on fences or where people walk, since when one of their branches breaks an accident can occur.
In addition to that, if the intention is to plant it in an urban area, care must be taken that it is not near buildings or pipes, since on many occasions people have reported how this species has damaged both. That is why it is advisable to plant them a little isolated so that no important complication occurs.
Now, this plant has properties that allow it to be given various medicinal uses, for example, by using its young leaves to make a tea, it is possible to relieve muscle pain, headaches or earaches. If three cups of this tea are taken daily, it will be possible to reduce a fever or relieve the flu. It has also been shown to reduce the chances of a person suffering from cardiovascular disease, it also works as a relaxant and to attack stomach pains.
All this just by making use of its leaves, if instead you take a little of its bark and boil it for approximately 15 minutes, it is possible to use that liquid to heal a burn, a minor wound or inflammation that may occur in the mouth. Some people have used the water in which the bark was boiled to reduce throat infections.
These medicinal uses are not equally effective in all people, the body of a person allergic to acetylsalicylic acid may react negatively to any medicinal preparation with this tree, other people may not have as much effect. In any case, it is recommended to drink only a little of the tea with the willow leaves to determine if there will be any negative effects.
Features
In the following list the first characteristics of the weeping willow are related to its appearance, so that a physical description of this species can be made. The rest of the points to mention will be some curiosities.
- A first characteristic of this species is about its growth, they can reach 15 meters high, although on average they usually grow only 12, some specimens have been described with heights beyond 26 meters, but they are rare cases.
- The bark of this species is mostly dark and brown when they are a few years old, while young willows have a slightly lighter bark with green tones. Its texture also varies depending on its age, the young ones have a somewhat smooth bark, with the passage of time they begin to form fissures that show their advanced age.
- The branches that it has are brown or light green in color and are quite thin, unlike other willows that can have trunks many centimeters in diameter on their trunks and branches. Those of the weeping willow, in addition to being thin, are long and can reach the ground due to the hanging aspect that gives them their flexibility.
- As for its leaves, these have a lanceolate shape and can measure from eight to 15 centimeters in length. Weeping willows can keep their leaves until autumn or winter when they begin to fall, although some of them have kept them all year long, while others only let some fall. This varies depending on the climate in which this species is found.
- This is one of the many species in which the inflorescence is next to the leaves (generally in winter) and its flowers are generally yellow with a pastel tone, they are unisexual, so a weeping willow can be male or female and they can take four years or more to start to emerge.
- They are capable of resisting both cold and hot climates, their resistance is really very good up to eight degrees, in fact, they have no problem receiving direct sunlight during the day.
- The meaning of its name suggests that it comes from Babylon, but this species really comes from Asia, so its name is the product of confusion. Yes it is possible to find some there, but it is thanks to the distribution that this plant has had.
- The weeping willow also has meaning for believers in religions based on the Bible, because some stories have spread the belief that on the last night of Jesus Christ he was in prayer right under a willow tree. In this sense, many people can give it a religious meaning that shows them as a species that represents positive or negative feelings depending on the interpretation of each person.
- Another meaning for the willow is that of good friendship, but this is not really unique to this species, several plants are attributed this symbol of friendship since giving a plant to another person means a good relationship and good wishes.
Reproduction
The reproduction of the weeping willow can be through cuttings, grafts or seeds, however, it is the wind that intervenes in its reproduction when the plant does it by itself, being a pollinating agent dispersing its seeds to other places for it to occur. germination, this is called anemochory.
It is important to keep in mind that it is a tree that can grow very quickly, so if it is planted at home, it will need to be moved to an outdoor site such as a garden or in the front part of the house. It is also a species that can really give a very attractive touch to the place where you want to plant it, so it will be a very good option for natural decoration.
Multiplication with cuttings
The cuttings can be obtained in winter or in autumn, that is, when the weeping willow no longer has leaves. It is at this time that certain branches can be chosen (that look completely healthy) and that are thicker than a pencil and the size of a 30 centimeter ruler, that is the recommended size so that roots can begin to be seen, because if is finer or shorter it may just die.
In this sense, after cutting it from the tree, a little of its bark should be removed at that end that previously connected with the tree, approximately three centimeters will suffice. Later, that bare part of the branch will get a little wet and so that the roots can grow more quickly, you can add fertilizer or some hormone that they sell for the roots.
After placing them in the ground, it should be watered until it is moist. The location should be shaded, making sure no direct sunlight reaches the cuttings. This may seem like a contradiction knowing that they are plants that resist sunlight all day, but this is when they have already covered a bit of the plant life cycle and when they are stronger.
multiplication with seeds
This type of reproduction is not very common because the seeds of this species are not very easy to obtain or do not give rise in some cases. In this type of reproduction, it is the wind that normally distributes them, as indicated above. This is easy because they have a feathery appearance that makes them light for this transport. Another negative point is that they do not survive for long, so at the time of flowering they must be obtained directly from the tree.
These seeds have a kind of cottony fibers, it is necessary to remove them when they have been removed from the tree and then they will be put in a container with a little water so that they spend a whole day and the shoots can start to come out. It is recommended to get several seeds for this process, so that if some fail to germinate you still have other options.
When the 24 hours of "rest" in the container have passed, they can be removed and planted in a tray like the ones used in orchards. The ideal soil is one that is half black peat and half dirt, while the right place is where sunlight can reach them directly. That is, a different place than the one used for planting with cuttings. Finally, it should be watered every time the land looks dry, but waterlogging should be avoided.
Care
Like other species, the weeping willow needs some care so that it can grow properly and maintain a healthy image, they can be attacked by miners and seriously harm them, there are also other pests and animals that can cause diseases and end their lives, for example, caterpillars, mealybugs or aphids, as well as insects Corutucha salicata.
To protect this species from these threats, it is recommended to obtain a fungicide or insecticide that contains copper, sulfur or dimethoate, some of which can be easily prepared at home. The ideal time to apply them is during spring.
If properly cared for and given the necessary attention, a weeping willow tree can live for up to 60 years. However, do not worry too much about having constant and too frequent attention, its care is not really something too special, a person with little knowledge of gardening will find this species quite simple. Their condition should only be checked every two weeks, which would be the average attention some plants require.
Substratum
The ideal soil for these trees to grow is one that is made up of perlite, that is, it must be porous, although soil prepared with black peat is also a good option. That is the one that should be used to plant the cuttings or seeds. However, this type of soil is not a mandatory condition for their development, although this is the ideal for them to grow healthy and strong, they can develop in other types of soils.
Specimens that have been planted near bodies of water have shown quite healthy growth, so it is recommended to plant them near rivers or lakes. This goes hand in hand with the need to Humidity they require, along with the need for direct light for as long as possible.
Previously it was recommended to plant them in a place where they are far from buildings or pipes, this is because their roots can reach a good depth and can destroy the things they cling to. In this sense, it would be ideal if there was nothing around it within a radius of at least ten meters, otherwise it may be necessary to cut them down. About the necessary care:
- La pruning It should be done when the tree has already grown a little, some people usually start pruning them after two years, others do it a little earlier. In any case, winter is the best time to remove those branches that look damaged or are simply not healthy. Summer is the best time to make cuts in its leaves, remembering that they can be quite long and cascade.
If it has been planted in a pot, it will be necessary to locate the thickest root, this will be done at any time and as the tree grows more and more, it is also preferable to do it when winter is almost over. What will be done is to carefully remove the tree from the pot, then the soil will be removed little by little until its roots are seen and the one that is longest can be identified. This will be cut and a healing agent will be placed so that the fungi do not attack it in that cut area.
- If it's going to transplant A weeping willow should be waited until winter is almost over, although you can choose to repot right after pruning. The substrate should be the same as mentioned above so that it can grow very well.
- As to wiring, during the spring the branches can be wired, but this should not be left for more than two or three months, otherwise you will see marks that will last for many years.
- The type of allowance It can be anything that is specifically made for bonsai and the time to apply it is every 20 days, this should be when spring is beginning and it will be maintained until summer comes to an end. Although other specimens have grown very well without the need for fertilizer, so whether or not to pay is the user's choice.
- Irrigation should be done frequently, after pruning the roots, irrigation should be constant for at least three months and water with a few drops of Benerva should be used. Always careful not to flood the earth around the specimen so that it does not rot.
Now, if you want to keep a weeping willow as a Bonsai, you need to take into account that it must be transplanted, pruned and fertilized more frequently. The pruning is because it will be necessary to reduce their leaf blades little by little as they grow. However, these cares are preferred by those who have the weeping willow as an ornamental plant and want to display it in their homes as such.
The care of a bonsai is characterized by paying attention to the shape that the trunk of the plant acquires, so that they can be cut in places where they are not wanted to grow. This will mold the shape of the trunk and it will look how you want.
As for the pots, it is not recommended to plant them in them for everything that has been mentioned about their growth and the "aggressiveness" of their roots, planting them there will imply their care as bonsai and constant pruning must be maintained so that their growth can be controlled and does not spread more than it should, in that case it can burst the pot at any time.
In addition to that, some of these trees have rotted over time, clearly this can be related to excessive irrigation, but the number of cases of death by rot has allowed us to determine that they are very prone to this. In any case, if it is rotting, you can choose to immediately cut a cutting and look for its reproduction in another place, remembering to keep it with better care to prevent it from dying again.
Although bonsai have a very beautiful appearance, the weeping willow is shown in all its splendor when it can grow freely and isolated in a garden or any type of terrain where it can stand out among the crowd. Flora from that place, so the recommendation is to plant them in the ground and avoid pots.