Salix species ( derived from another thread)

[Robert G]

EDIT BY MAGGI : THIS THREAD BEGAN AS ROBERT SOUGHT A SOURCE FOR SALIX LANATA IN CANADA AND MOVED ON TO A DISCUSSION OF OTHER SALIX... HERE IS A NEW THREAD FOR THAT....... includes all the source stuff, too!
 



Robert G : 
Hi Everyone,

 I am looking for a Canadian source for this plant, either a nursery or exchange. I was hoping some of the Canadian forumists could help with that, but more importantly I am seeking input regarding Salix lantana as a garden plant. Input can cross borders freely, plant material not as easy. There are some nice descriptions floating around out there, but I value the forums collective experience. I am also interested in hearing about any small Salix out there.

[Maggi Young]

Robert, I am not aware of the species Salix lantana..... I am, however, acquainted with Salix lanata...... could it be you have made a typing mistake ?

Salix lanata, the wooly willow, as it is sometimes known, is a pretty thing, quite low growing..... and capable of taking over large counties in a short time!
i have heard of supposedly shorter growing cultivars, but whether they are less invasive or not, I cannot say.

Depending on the space you have available, this may not be a problem y to you.... if you are looking f or a cute willow for an "average" rock garden then steer clear of S. lanata is my strong advice.

Salix hylematica is more dwarf, ground hugging and here in Aberdeen makes more,  very pretty catkins....still quite spreading but altogether neater and slower.

Salix herbacea is very tiny, though lacks the furry leaves of lanata, but is really a nice little plant.... charming plant.

[maggiepie]

I had no idea there was such variety in salix.
What did we do before google?

Maggi, found this site while googling your suggestions.

http://www.wondertree.co.uk/willow_nursery.html

[johnw]

Robert

Alpines Mt. Echo in Quebec carried it but they have closed.  Maria, the owner, will be attending a few NARGS sales to clear out the remaining stock. Your might catch her at the next NARGS eastern Winter Study weekend, or have someone going pick one up for you.  Having said that it might be tricky getting it inspected for return; and there's a chance she can't get Salix into the US to sell. She had some good selected forms of it.  I think Murray's Horticultural in Portugal Cove just outside St. John's (did I not post a shot of one???) had some last time I was there but they can't ship soil of of NL, they may have sent propagations to an Ontario nursery though.

johnw

[Robert G]

Maggi,

You are right about the spelling error, of course. It is good to know that it can take over. I have seen the words 'slow growing' twice to describe. This info is what I was hoping for. Thank you for that and the other suggestions.

Helen,

I love that link.

John,

I was going to get some salix from Maria this coming spring and then I got her general email about the closing. A few years ago someone mentioned a 'Willow Guy' that sold/specialized in salix out east. Does that ring a bell? Thank for the help.

[Maggi Young]

Robert, I should have given you an idea of size...... grew to around 1.4m high by 3 or 4 m across in less than ten years!

[TheOnionMan]

Salix hylematica is more dwarf, ground hugging and here in Aberdeen makes more,  very pretty catkins....still quite spreading but altogether neater and slower.

I do like Salix hylematica, although once it is happy and gets going, it can really spread.  I tried to find a photo of it flower when covered with cute little reddish catkins but couldn't find one in a cursory search, but did find two views taken this year, one in June and one in late October just before the willow's leaves turn yellow.   It has aggressively spread into a garden path... this year I frequently walked on it, seeing if it can stand up to foot traffic.  What's hard to capture in the photos, are the shiny little green leaves along red stems, making for a delightful low mat-forming willow for all season, just give it enough space and keep it away from anything really choice.  See Maggi, you thought I only grow alliums 

[maggiepie]

That looks like a 'must have', Mark.

[johnw]

John,

I was going to get some salix from Maria this coming spring and then I got her general email about the closing. A few years ago someone mentioned a 'Willow Guy' that sold/specialized in salix out east. Does that ring a bell? Thank for the help.

Maria would be your best bet. The willow at Murray's was candida and I think some went to Sheridan's.  Maybe try Rick Lupp at Mt. Tahoma Nursery.

Hmm, no willow guy out this way that I know, Maria would be the one to ask but she's in Ecuador right now (back in 3 weeks).  Have a few others here but not lanata.

johnw

[johnw]

Salix hylematica is more dwarf, ground hugging and here in Aberdeen makes more,  very pretty catkins....still quite spreading but altogether neater and slower.

I do like Salix hylematica, although once it is happy and gets going, it can really spread.  I tried to find a photo of it flower when covered with cute little reddish catkins but couldn't find one in a cursory search, but did find two views taken this year, one in June and one in late October just before the willow's leaves turn yellow.   It has aggressively spread into a garden path... this year I frequently walked on it, seeing if it can stand up to foot traffic.  What's hard to capture in the photos, are the shiny little green leaves along red stems, making for a delightful low mat-forming willow for all season, just give it enough space and keep it away from anything really choice.  See Maggi, you thought I only grow alliums 

Mark - Is it bone hardy with you?  It seems so be somewhat okay here in NS in the ground on the coast but less hardy in a container.  I get a lot of die-back on mine which is planted on the edge of a trough.

johnw

[cohan]

while we are on the subject, any sources of seed of any of the mat forming alpine willows? i really loved those i saw in the mountains this year, but all in parks, so no cuttings, i might have snitched a seedpod if there were lots, but none seen at all the time i was there....
i think beavercreek has listed some species as plants, but havent seen seed anywhere.. i assume wrightmans has a couple of species as well...

as to 'willow guy' the only thing that springs to mind is a place in b.c. specialising in willows and grasses, but i dont think he had any of the miniatures, last i looked..

[TheOnionMan]

Mark - Is it bone hardy with you?  It seems so be somewhat okay here in NS in the ground on the coast but less hardy in a container.  I get a lot of die-back on mine which is planted on the edge of a trough.

johnw

Yup, bone hardy here.  Maybe it is more sensitive in a trough, being more exposed and the roots freezing more deeply?  In my setting, it has vigorously rooted into the pine bark mulch I use on garden pathways.  I've had this for 20+ years.

[Susan Band]

Salix  Boydii and Salix reticulata are also good willows ideal for a trough. Don't know about hardiness.
Susan

[Lesley Cox]

Surely both should be tough as old boots? Isn't S. reticulata an Arctic species? and wasn't S. x Boydii found in the far north of Scotland?

[johnw]

Salix  Boydii and Salix reticulata are also good willows ideal for a trough. Don't know about hardiness.
Susan

Both hardy here.

johnw