Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Plants Wanted Or For Exchange => Topic started by: Tim Harberd on March 30, 2020, 09:52:06 PM

Title: Scottish Willow
Post by: Tim Harberd on March 30, 2020, 09:52:06 PM: I'm trying to track down Salix x balfourii (caprea x lanata).... Balfour's Willow ... named after Scottish botanist John Hutton Balfour ... I've found a nursery in America which lists it!!

The only place I've found it in the UK is Thenford Gardens, Oxfordshire... (not a nursery)

Presumably it is still grown in its native land?

I'm hoping someone in Scotland might be able to spare me some cuttings in the autumn?

Tim DH
Title: Re: Scottish Willow
Post by: Karaba on March 31, 2020, 09:32:13 AM: Closer but still on the other side of the channel : https://www.pepiniere-brochetlanvin.com/saules-salix-osiers-collection/1532-Salix-x-balfouri-saule-de-balfour.html (https://www.pepiniere-brochetlanvin.com/saules-salix-osiers-collection/1532-Salix-x-balfouri-saule-de-balfour.html)
Title: Re: Scottish Willow
Post by: ian mcdonald on March 31, 2020, 11:33:23 AM: Tim, maybe the gardener would allow some cuttings. The head gardeners sometimes help people who are interested in their plants. Perhaps a message to Thenford might be useful?
Title: Re: Scottish Willow
Post by: annew on March 31, 2020, 12:34:24 PM: A friend has a very special (and endangered - he's looking for a home for it) collection of rare hybrid willows. I will ask him.
Title: Re: Scottish Willow
Post by: annew on April 02, 2020, 11:46:39 AM: My friend has replied:
Re Salix x balfourii. This has never been found inthe wild, at least in Britain. Linton claimed that he had synthesized from the parents in his garden but even if correct I doubt it still exists.
Sorry we are unable to help.
Title: Re: Scottish Willow
Post by: Tim Harberd on April 03, 2020, 08:05:56 AM: Hi Yvain,
Thanks for the link... What a wonderful website!

Hi Ian,
I was thinking I might try asking in the autumn, if nothing else works.

Hi Anne,
Thanks for your efforts... Mis-named things being passed round under 'rare' names is an ever present problem in many genera.... Interestingly the American nursery's S x balfourii ( https://www.willowsvermont.com/home.html (https://www.willowsvermont.com/home.html) ) came to them as something else anyway!!! This website includes a score of photos of their plant, which is helpful.

Tim DH
Title: Re: Scottish Willow
Post by: Tim Harberd on September 23, 2020, 12:27:59 PM: I guess if I'm going to get any cutting wood of Balfour's Willow ( Salix x balfourii ) now is the time!

I've tried The National Willow Collection @ Rothamsted, with no response.

I've also discovered that some people grow Basford Golden Willow (Basfordiana) as S x balfourii, whereas other people think it is S x fragilis... so that muddies the water somewhat!

Tim DH
Title: Re: Scottish Willow
Post by: emma T on January 29, 2023, 09:59:16 AM: Did you ever ask thenford for the willow?
Title: Re: Scottish Willow
Post by: MarcR on January 29, 2023, 12:20:24 PM: Tim,

I'm willing to buy it from the US nursery that offers it, get a phyto, and send it to you if you will cover the actual costs. I'm not interested in charging you for my efforts.