Weeping Willow

Salix babylonica, the weeping willow (Shidare-yanagi in Japanese), is a fast-growing deciduous tree native to China, introduced to Japan during the Nara period and widely adopted in East Asian art, poetry, and garden design. Its long, pendulous branches clothed in narrow green leaves create an instantly recognizable silhouette associated with waterside tranquility. In Japanese Buddhist iconography, willow branches are carried by Kannon (Guanyin), the bodhisattva of compassion. In bonsai, the weeping willow is cultivated primarily in cascading or weeping styles, with branches trained to drape gracefully. Its vigorous growth demands frequent pruning, but this responsiveness also means that attractive compositions can be created relatively quickly.

Fertilizer (regular)