Quick Guide: summer, hardy, full sun, height: 6m/20ft, width: 4.5m/15ft
Even if they cannot put a name to any other tree, most people can recognize a willow by its slender, pointed leaves and the woolly catkins which appear in spring. Some species also have colourful bark. All like moisture, and are often planted near water.
GROWING Plant between autumn and early spring in a sunny position, Tight, sandy soils are unsuitable, especially for the larger species. To prune, remove dead wood during the winter and to encourage coloured shoots cut back to within 1-2 buds of old wood just before budbreak in spring.
PROPAGATION Take hardwood cuttings between autumn and spring and insert in moist soil. They should be ready for planting out in permanent positions after 1 year.
SPECIES Salix daphnoides (violet willow, fast-growing, with yellow catkins in early spring before the gleaming green leaves; in winter the stems are purple; S. alba (white willow), height up to 12m/40ft, greeny yellow catkins and grey-green leaves in late spring. .S. matsudana 'Tortuosa' (above), slow-growing, erect Willow. The variety 'Chermesina' has orange shoots in winter.
POSSIBLE PROBLEMS Caterpillars; anthracnose of willow.
