Imagine 600 willows from the United Kingdom, Russia, Poland and North America! This willow collection -- now the nation’s largest--was assembled in 1999 and 2000 by Yulia A. Kuzovkina-Eischen PhD for her research project. She explored the adaptability of the Salix species to stressful urban conditions (pollution, compacted or flooded soils) and ornamental floral & landscape qualities. Sharon Treaster, the now dubious “willow queen”, cares for and continues to monitor the plants for their hardiness in Central Ohio growing conditions. Recently, the willow stems have been gathered for an art display by noted stick sculptor Patrick Dougherty and for feeding the Columbus Zoo's twig-eating moose and porcupines.
Set to the north of the new, green-friendlyOhio 4-H Building, the willow collection featuresOhio natives as well as colorfully stemmed varieties in red, purple and gold. Don't miss the early spring display of the willow blooms with their signature fuzzy catkins. The Giant Japanese Pussy Willowboasts the largest catkins --the size of small rabbit feet.