Salix alba ‘Tristis’ (White Willow)

A popular golden weeping willow, Salix alba ‘Tristis’ is a large deciduous tree boasting a stout trunk topped by a graceful open crown of pendulous, brilliant yellow twigs that kiss the ground. In spring and summer, it bears narrow, lanceolate, finely-toothed, bright green to dark green leaves. They turn golden-yellow in the fall, before falling to the ground and revealing the spectacular silhouette of the tree. This weeping willow is dioecious, with male and female flowers appearing in showy catkins on separate male and female trees. It makes a spectacular specimen tree near ponds and streams where it can be reflected for double the pleasure. Regarded to be one of the best of the weeping willows.

• Grows up to 50-70 ft. tall and wide (15-21 m).
• Performs best in full sun in moderately fertile, medium to wet, well-drained soils.
• Easy to grow, easy to care for and deer tolerant. Keep an eye out for aphids, caterpillars, leaf beetles, sawflies, willow anthracnose diseases and a rust.
• Great near streams or ponds. Do not plant this willow near the house or a driveway because of its susceptibility to breakage and invasive roots which seek out cracks in sewer and water pipes.
• Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter
• Prune as needed in late winter to early spring.
• Salix alba species is native to Europe, North Africa and Central Asia.
• Find where this species is invasive in the United States.
• Discover beautiful U.S. native plant alternatives.