Pauline O\’Reilly asked 12 years ago
We have a damp area measuring 40 feet by 30 feet and were advised to plant Salix Alba Tristis here. On the internet we read that the roots can spread three times the distance from trunk to outer canopy. This seems huge. We think it was an American site. Will this hold true for Ireland? Is this tree suitable for us? Pauline P
1 Answers
Gerry Daly Staff answered 6 years ago
Willow is a good tree for damp ground and its root are wide-spreading but this nee not be a problem except for drains, especially cracked drains or perforated land drains, which the roots may block.
Salix alba ‘Tristis’ is a name given to Salix x chrysocoma, which replaced the older Salix babylonica. The older form is less prone to willow leaf canker which disfigures the tree. It can be very difficult to get the true Babylon willow as the two have been mixed up. The true kind will have much more healthy trees by late summer.
