I have a small tree of Salix caprea (goat or pussy willow) which I
bought from Buckingham Nurseries. I have read in one or two places that
it's the one common willow that can't be propagated from cuttings and
needs to be grown from seed.
That surprised me because on the one occasion I tried it, the cutting
took. I don't know now whether that was a fluke or whether what I bought
isn't pure Salix caprea but perhaps a hybrid.
Has anyone else had experience of rooting pussy willow?

Janet G

"Janet Galpin and Oliver Patterson" wrote in
message ...
I have a small tree of Salix caprea (goat or pussy willow) which I
bought from Buckingham Nurseries. I have read in one or two places that
it's the one common willow that can't be propagated from cuttings and
needs to be grown from seed.
That surprised me because on the one occasion I tried it, the cutting
took. I don't know now whether that was a fluke or whether what I bought
isn't pure Salix caprea but perhaps a hybrid.
Has anyone else had experience of rooting pussy willow?

Yes. a friend gave me a bunch of goat willow twigs. I just stuck them in the
mound at the side of the tiny stream bounding our apiary (the early pollen
is invaluable for bees). Every one struck, they are now about 15' high. Per
And I've given up beekeeping!

Mary

Janet G

In article ,
Mary Fisher wrote:

"Janet Galpin and Oliver Patterson" wrote in
message ...
I have a small tree of Salix caprea (goat or pussy willow) which I
bought from Buckingham Nurseries. I have read in one or two places that
it's the one common willow that can't be propagated from cuttings and
needs to be grown from seed.
That surprised me because on the one occasion I tried it, the cutting
took. I don't know now whether that was a fluke or whether what I bought
isn't pure Salix caprea but perhaps a hybrid.
Has anyone else had experience of rooting pussy willow?

Yes. a friend gave me a bunch of goat willow twigs. I just stuck them in the
mound at the side of the tiny stream bounding our apiary (the early pollen
is invaluable for bees). Every one struck, they are now about 15' high. Per
And I've given up beekeeping!

I had no problem, but the first summer was very dry and they died
before establishing.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren,
University of Cambridge Computing Service,
New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QH, England.
Email:
Tel.: +44 1223 334761 Fax: +44 1223 334679

The message
from (Nick Maclaren) contains these words:

In article ,
Mary Fisher wrote:

"Janet Galpin and Oliver Patterson" wrote in
message ...
I have a small tree of Salix caprea (goat or pussy willow) which I
bought from Buckingham Nurseries. I have read in one or two places that
it's the one common willow that can't be propagated from cuttings and
needs to be grown from seed.
That surprised me because on the one occasion I tried it, the cutting
took. I don't know now whether that was a fluke or whether what I bought
isn't pure Salix caprea but perhaps a hybrid.
Has anyone else had experience of rooting pussy willow?

Yes. a friend gave me a bunch of goat willow twigs. I just stuck them
in the
mound at the side of the tiny stream bounding our apiary (the early pollen
is invaluable for bees). Every one struck, they are now about 15' high. Per
And I've given up beekeeping!

I had no problem, but the first summer was very dry and they died
before establishing.


Thanks Mary and Nick.
Interesting. It's Alan Mitchell for one who says cuttings don't strike
- and he usually knows what he's talking about, so I'm puzzled.

Janet G

"Janet Galpin and Oliver Patterson" wrote in
message

Thanks Mary and Nick.
Interesting. It's Alan Mitchell for one who says cuttings don't strike
- and he usually knows what he's talking about, so I'm puzzled.

My donor was a botanist so I'm confident that they were true. I suspect that
being stuck in on the side of the stream was a very important factor.

Mary

Janet G

In article ,
Mary Fisher wrote:

"Janet Galpin and Oliver Patterson" wrote in
message

Thanks Mary and Nick.
Interesting. It's Alan Mitchell for one who says cuttings don't strike
- and he usually knows what he's talking about, so I'm puzzled.

My donor was a botanist so I'm confident that they were true. I suspect that
being stuck in on the side of the stream was a very important factor.

While I am a very amateur botanist, I am certain that I got the right
species! I think that your comment about water may be the point; it
is very likely that they are very sensitive to drying out before they
have established a proper root system.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren,
University of Cambridge Computing Service,
New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QH, England.
Email:
Tel.: +44 1223 334761 Fax: +44 1223 334679

The message
from Janet Galpin and Oliver Patterson
contains these words:

I have a small tree of Salix caprea (goat or pussy willow) which I
bought from Buckingham Nurseries. I have read in one or two places that
it's the one common willow that can't be propagated from cuttings and
needs to be grown from seed.
That surprised me because on the one occasion I tried it, the cutting
took. I don't know now whether that was a fluke or whether what I bought
isn't pure Salix caprea but perhaps a hybrid.
Has anyone else had experience of rooting pussy willow?

Not quite the same, but in the last garden, one growing in a boggy
area layered itself very easily; so I'd think cuttings would be a
doddle.

Janet.