Phytoremediation | Vermont Willow Nursery

interior

Lisa — Sat, 02 Oct 2021 22:44:43 +0000

Warning! Can be invasive!

Interior is one of the best willows we offer for streambank restoration! It is very definition of “Plant and Forget” when it comes to streams that are in dire need of vegetation. It’s superior root network is also why we consider it invasive. It is one of the few willows that sends new growth up shallow roots called rhizomes. We’ve got one stool that has managed to travel under a four foot wide walking path to reach an adjacent field – any time a rod grows in the path it gets mowed – and yet it thrives. Interior can be managed, however, if proper steps are taken

The rods are pliable and well-suited for weaving too! Like all willows, the more you coppice (or mow) the more new growth you encourage. More new growth means more catkins. More catkins means more happy pollinators! Or you could let it age to provide a little shade for streams and habitat for birds. Willows fill a vital role in the ecosystem at every stage in it’s lifecycle.

We’ve seen some pretty great studies that show interior also cleanses the area in which it’s planted – a process called “phytoremediation”. Stay tuned to the Salix Garden for more information.

Click Here To See Interior's USDA Fact Sheet

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interior x eriocephala

Lisa — Sat, 02 Oct 2021 19:05:15 +0000

Salix interior forms natural hybrids with S. eriocephala. Controlled pollinations using Salix interior from Southern Ontario (A. Mosseler 1990, New Brunswick, Canada) successfully produced F1 hybrids with S. eriocephala; this is one of the progeny. We received cuttings of this hybrid from Salix Master Extraordinaire, George Argus of Ontario. It is a male selection and grows lustily and there are no signs of it spreading as does S. interior. It has elegant leaves and makes a tall slender plant. Like S. eriocephala it has stipules at the base of the leaves, whereas S. interior does not. This was a deliberate cross made in New Brunswick, Canada by Mosselar as he had been given the task of developing willows to be planted on the waste from Coal Mining operations.

Description Credit to Michael Dodge

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nigra

Aric Vanselous — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 21:45:26 +0000

Another vigorous species, the Black Willow will grow over a 100ft tall; it makes an imposing tree with deeply furrowed bark. It is the largest-growing native willow in the USA and grows wild in the Eastern half of the country. It one of the most common trees in Vermont on river banks and other damp areas; I’ve even found it growing in a foot of water in Lake Champlain. We have a tiny plant on my property beside a beaver pond–obviously there were more before supper! It has now been caged! It has bright green, twiggy young growth that is great if dried and used as plant supports for perennials (if you don’t dry them they’ll start to grow!). Black Willow is represented in the West by the botanically similar Salix gooddingii that I have recently obtained cuttings of (sadly these died to the ground in the winter of ’18/’19, but sprouted at the base.

Description Credit to Michael Dodge

The post nigra first appeared on Vermont Willow Nursery.