Do you know what this is?

Discussion in 'Trees' started by jay252735, Jun 11, 2024.

  1. jay252735

    jay252735 Apprentice Gardener

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2020
    Messages:
    6
    Ratings:
    +0
    Hey,

    I have this beautiful tree (was here before I moved) which is fairly small and twisted. The leaves naturally reach the ground but I keep it trimmed to see the trunk.

    About two years ago some shoots came out of the base. They surprised me because they are growing much taller than the original.

    Do you know what tree this is, and why the off shoots are a lot bigger?

    Thank you
     

    Attached Files:

  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2005
    Messages:
    56,458
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Mid Kent
    Ratings:
    +110,198
    Think it might be a grafted willow, the tall shoots coming from the base are from the rootstock.
    The tree is at a bad angle.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • noisette47

      noisette47 Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Jan 25, 2013
      Messages:
      7,068
      Gender:
      Female
      Location:
      Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine
      Ratings:
      +17,158
      Imperative to take off the suckers from the rootstock! If left, they'll take over and quite possibly produce an enormous weeping willow and the original twisted willow will die.
       
      • Agree Agree x 6
      • jay252735

        jay252735 Apprentice Gardener

        Joined:
        Jun 26, 2020
        Messages:
        6
        Ratings:
        +0
        Oh right thank you so much. Appreciate the feedback!
        And yeah it’s at a really odd angle - not quite sure how to rectify that as it seems set in its ways!
         
      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

        Joined:
        Jan 9, 2005
        Messages:
        56,458
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired
        Location:
        Mid Kent
        Ratings:
        +110,198
        It probably started out growing away from the conifers to get more light and then became top heavy, if its stable I'd leave it, but if its loose in the ground you might need to slowly try pulling it back upright.
         
        • Informative Informative x 1
        • fairygirl

          fairygirl Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Oct 3, 2020
          Messages:
          4,027
          Occupation:
          retired
          Location:
          west central Scotland
          Ratings:
          +9,202
          That's how they often grow/look round here. There's one near me and the canopy is now touching the ground, and it isn't even that big. I don't know why the people don't just cut it down and get rid. It looks dreadful.

          They have to be really heftily staked from the start, as they get top heavy very, very quickly.
          I'd rather have the rootstock!
           
          • Agree Agree x 2
          • pete

            pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

            Joined:
            Jan 9, 2005
            Messages:
            56,458
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Retired
            Location:
            Mid Kent
            Ratings:
            +110,198
            I think that @jay252735 likes it.
            Not a shrub I like personally but they seem to be popular.
             
          • CostasK

            CostasK Super Gardener

            Joined:
            Feb 19, 2022
            Messages:
            533
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            UI/UX Designer
            Location:
            County Durham
            Ratings:
            +1,229
            We have one (weeping willow). My partner chose it but I rather like it as well. It does have its issues e.g. the trunk it's grafted on is quite small and I keep having to prune the top part so that it doesn't touch the ground, but there is something nice about its form. I know it's not very popular in this forum, but each to their own.
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • Fof

              Fof Gardener

              Joined:
              Oct 23, 2022
              Messages:
              242
              Location:
              Far west Cornwall
              Ratings:
              +267
              Just to set the record straight.
              This is Salix caprea "Kilmarnock". The stock will almost certainly be S. caprea, the common goat willow.
              The scion, the pendulous, top portion, produces male catkins. (There is, apparently, a female form S.caprea ‘Weeping Sally’, but I can find very little info on it.)
              A single specimen of this totally prostrate form was discovered in Scotland in the mid 1800s, and propagated as an ornamental plant by Thomas Lang of Kilmarnock, hence its name.
               
              • Like Like x 1
              Gardeners Corner is dependent on Donation to keep running, if you enjoy using Gardeners Corner, please consider donating to help us with our operating costs.

              Share This Page

              1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                Dismiss Notice