This choice, strongly growing willow looks good all through the year, but is perhaps at its best in late winter when its softly furry, 'pussy' catkins appear. They are a soft grey colour with a 'fuzz' of prominent yellow anthers and have a slight scent. The catkins grow on twigs covered in a thick, grey down and appear some time before the six inch leaves that are lance shaped and toothed in a dark green with downy undersides. This willow grows into a large shrub or small tree and is about twelve feet by fifteen feet when mature. It will grow in any deep, moist but well drained soil in full sun. Like other willows, it will not thrive in a shallow, chalky soil.
Propagation: Root greenwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter. |
Its young stem shoots are a pretty violet purple, overlaid with a white bloom. Their colour is emphasised by the appearance in late winter of its silky grey catkins, up to one and a half inches long, that grow on the bare stems before the leaves appear. The leaves are narrowly oblong and toothed in a dark green. 5. daphnoides grows upright rapidly when young, but turns into a spreading tree, reaching 25 feet by 25 feet when mature. For those who want to keep it small, it responds well to hard pruning. This should be done in mid-spring annually or in alternate years. Grow in any deep, moist but well drained soil in full sun.
Propagation: Root greenwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter. |
Salix fargesii is a medium sized species willow. It is suitable for smaller gardens as it seldom grows taller than about ten feet and spreads over a similar diameter. Growing in an upright, open way, it has strong shoots that are green when young, but become reddish brown as they mature. They are shown off to perfection in winter when their 'polish' is clearly seen and they are embellished by striking red buds. The catkins are slender and appear at the same time as the leaves in spring. Its seven inch, finely toothed, elliptical leaves are a rich glossy green with distinctive veining and they have silky undersides. This willow may be grown in any deep, moist but well drained soil in full sun.
Propagation: Root greenwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter. |
