alba ‘St Oedenrode’

A narrow upright tree that the Holden Arboretum in Ohio kindly shared with us; perhaps the narrowest growing willow tree available! Their specimen was perhaps 30ft tall and is 6-7 ft across at its widest! Our plants are about 12ft tall in 4 years from cuttings. The foliage is similar to the Cricket Bat Willow (Salix alba ‘Caerulea’) in that it is greener than the white selections. Someone ought to hybridize this with Salix alba ‘Sericea to get a silver-leaved version. I believe that this is a male selection, but after 6 years mine has not produced catkins. A row of these would remind one of Italian gardens! This plant originated in the Netherlands and was named after the town where it was found. This cultivar found it’s way to the National Willow Collection in the UK and from there it went into trials with the Plant Introduction Station of the USDA. It is from them that the Holden Arboretum received this plant. It is noted that this tree may reach 60ft at maturity—not for the small garden unless you want to screen out something tall and ugly! Young stems are greenish in winter, but are reddish bronze when young. Flower buds are flattened with the tip curling away from the stem. We have yet to see catkins on our plants.

description credit to Michael Dodge