Salix babylonica Salix babylonica Salix babylonica (Babylon willow or weeping willow; ) is a species of willow native to dry areas of northern China, but cultivated for millennia elsewhere in Asia, being traded along the Silk Road to southwest Asia and Europe. "Salix babylonica" is a medium- to large-sized deciduous tree, growing up to tall. It grows rapidly, but has a short lifespan, between 40 and 75 years. The shoots are yellowish-brown, with small buds. The leaves are alternate and spirally arranged, narrow, light green, 4–16 cm long and 0.5–2 cm broad, with finely serrate margins and long acuminate tips; they turn
Salix triandra other willows having two or five stamens. The scientific name derives from the male flowers having three stamens. The English common name refers to the similarity in leaf shape to almond leaves. The variety "Salix triandra" var. "hoffmanniana" Bab., found in Great Britain, is distinguished by being smaller (rarely over tall) and densely branched, with smaller leaves 2–7 cm long and 1-2.5 cm wide not glaucous below. It is not considered distinct by all authorities, particularly on continental Europe, so its range outside Britain, if any, is not reported. "Salix triandra" readily forms natural hybrids with "Salix viminalis", the hybrid