As much as the spring landscape may be dominated by the weeping cherry trees discussed on Page 1, cherries don't hold a monopoly on this fascinating tree form. Weeping Japanese red maple tree (Acer palmatum dissectum 'Tamukeyama') is a weeping, laceleaf type of Japanese maple, bearing purple foliage that turns red in the fall. Weeping Japanese red maple reaches a height of 8' and a spread of 12'. Hardy to zone 5, weeping Japanese red maple tree also stands up rather well to the heat of warmer climates.
For a weeping willow tree with bright green leaves in spring, plant Salix babylonica. This weeping willow is one of the first trees to come into leaf in spring, and one of the last to lose its foliage in fall. Green summer foliage yields to a yellow color in autumn. Height 40', spread 30'. Zones 4-9.
A majestic, fast-growing tree, weeping willow branches separate into many thin stems that droop airily to the ground. The weeping willow displays narrow leaves on its classic pendulous branches. This lance-shaped foliage sometimes has a silky underside that glistens on a sunny, windy day. Weeping willow tree is typical of the willow family in that it prefers to grow in wet areas, making it a good choice for what is often a problem area on a landscape.
Salix alba 'Niobe', meanwhile, is the golden weeping willow. Golden weeping willow outdoes even the green variety for cold hardiness, being hardy to zone 2. Whichever weeping willow you grow, this old-time favorite richly deserves inclusion in the fourth spot on our Top 10 list of weeping trees.
For approximately four weeks in early spring the weeping pussy willow tree (Salix caprea 'pendula') is draped in the silvery-gray catkins that we have come to associate so strongly with spring's arrival. But these catkins are enormous! And they stud branches that droop down to the ground, making this a tree not just of spring interest, but of year-round interest. The catkins are succeeded by shiny greenish-gray deciduous foliage.
This dwarf reaches a height of 6'-7', with a spread of 5'-6'. Weeping pussy willows prefer full sun and moist soil. Zones 4-8. See photo above for a picture of this whimsical tree.
But we're only at the half-way juncture of this Top 10 countdown. On Page 3 I'll introduce the weeping trees that fill spots 6-10....
