Question
Hi Jim,
My husband recently purchased a willow tree that was called "Ball willow" but I cannot find any information on it. The only thing he knew was that it did not weep. Could you provide me with some information about it?
Thank you,
Maxine


Answer
It will be difficult to truly ID the willow by a common name. There should have been a scientific name on the label. Over 400 species of willow (genus Salix) have been recorded and the species is very cross-fertile, leading to the establishment of many hybrid varieties of the species,
A Botanist named C. R. Ball worked with willow species in the early 1900's and named quite a number of willows. I would guess this is one of the Black willow species but could not find a common name of Ball willow. Sorry.