caroliniana

I nearly flipped when I saw this willow in flower for the first time in the Chicago Botanical Garden in May 2015, as I had no idea what I was looking at! It was so different than any other willow I had ever seen! It was labelled Salix sp? and I had taken cuttings the previous March so I knew what the foliage looked like and I had guessed it maybe the Carolina Willow, but until I saw the catkins I was not certain. I also knew the male catkins looked like those of the Black Willow (S. nigra), so once I calmed down, I was darned certain it was the Carolina Willow. I immediately thought to myself “why the heck isn’t this great ornamental willow grown in more gardens?” I have not seen this species in any Public Garden or nursery list (try Googling it!). Also, I have yet to have the pleasure of meeting it in the wild; although I looked for it in Arkansas and Virginia as I passed though in March, 2015. I realized afterwards that I was probably too early, it probably flowers in April there.

Anyway, take my word for it, this is a great plant; hardy in Northern Vermont where it survived temperatures dropping to –25°F for 30 straight days in the winter of 2014-2015 without a blemish! After flowering the long arching branches are clothed with attractive clean green leaves that are glaucous underneath. It also has prominent stipules at the base of the leaf petioles. It flowers the next year from cuttings stuck in spring—S. nigra hasn’t flowered in the nursery after years of growing it!

Click here to see what the USDA has to say about caroliniana.