The ''Salix'' Sepulcralis Group is a cultivar group containing all cultivars of hybrids between '' Salix alba'' and '' Salix babylonica''. The trees in this group are sometimes referred to as white weeping willow or glaucous weeping willow in reference to the mixed appearance from the parent species. It was first described by L. Simonkai in 1890 from trees growing in Romania. The group contains both weeping and nonweeping cultivars, though the best-known of its cultivars is 'Chrysocoma', the most widely grown

weeping tree Weeping trees are trees characterized by soft, limp twigs. This characterization may lead to a bent crown and pendulous branches that can cascade to the ground. While weepyness occurs in nature, most weeping trees are cultivars. Because of their ...

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Some of the cultivars are hybrids of ''S. babylonica'' var. ''matsudana'' 'Tortuosa' and have inherited 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

These trees are usually no more than {{convert, 12, m, ft, abbr=on tall. Leaves are finely serrulate, pubescent or silky when young. Ovaries are short and flask-shaped, not much longer than the subtending catkin scale. They are usually intermediate between the parent species, showing the typical weeping willow appearance with leaves that are pale glaucous below. But as an ornamental tree with high diversity, trees may look closer to either parent or different entirely.

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': Semiweeping habit with twisted, orange-red winter branches * 'Salamonii': Weeping habit with olive-brown winter branches * 'Sepulcralis': Upright habit with orange-brown winter branchesSantamour, F.S. & McArdle, A.J. (1988). Cultivars of Salix babylonica and other Weeping Willows. Journal of Arboriculture 14: 180-184 File:Salix Sepulcralis Group 'Sepulcralis'1.JPG , ''S. sepulcralis'' group 'Sepulcralis' - detail of winter branches

References

External links

Kew Gardens, species page
sepulcralis Weeping trees Ornamental plant cultivars