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"Ball Willow" Identity: Likely a Hybrid or Cultivar

Question: Purchased a "Ball willow" (non-weeping). Can't find info. What is it?

Answer

Common names are unreliable for willows (Salix spp.—400+ species, many hybrids). Botanist C.R. Ball named many cultivars in early 1900s. This is likely a black willow selection. Check the nursery tag for the scientific name.

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