Growing the Weeping Golden Willow

Size and Appearance

The Weeping Golden Willow is a large deciduous tree that will grow very rapidly to easily be over 75 feet tall and 50 feet wide, or even larger. Since it will add at least 2 feet a year, and often more, to its size, within a decade it will be pushing up towards 30 feet tall and wide. It has a thick trunk, often divided into several major limbs, and the bark is deeply fissured and gray-brown, giving a rugged look to this beautiful tree. The smaller branches hang vertically from the main limbs, in a curtain that can reach the ground, even from a mature tree. The young stems are golden-yellow, which looks beautiful in winter and early spring. It is this feature that give the tree its name ‘golden willow’. As the stems age over a few years they become olive-green, but new growth maintains the golden look.

The leaves are slightly curving elongated ovals, up to 4 inches long, and about ½ inch wide. Young leaves in spring – which develop very early in the season compared to most other trees – are pale green, and a newly-sprouted tree simply glows with beauty in that first haze of young leaves on the golden stems. As the leaves mature they turn dark green, and then, in fall, they turn clear yellow, making a striking fall specimen.

The flowers are soft catkins that stand upright, opening among the new leaves and adding to the haze effect. It takes closer examination of your tree to see them, and this tree is unique among willows in having both male and female parts on each catkin, while other willows have separate male and female catkins.

Using the Weeping Golden Willow in Your Garden

This tree is a large specimen for a larger garden, and sadly it is unsuitable for small gardens – unless you grow it for a time in a large planter, where it will look great as a small tree, and well-worth growing for several years of beauty. In the ground this fast-growing tree is perfect on a large lawn, or on a slope. It looks excellent beside water, where it is completely at home. Do not plant within 100 feet of buildings, water pipes. sewage pipes or septic systems.

Hardiness

The Weeping Golden Willow is incredibly hardy, growing well even in zone 2, and throughout the country right into zone 8 – truly a tree for anywhere.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Full sun is best for your Weeping Golden Willow. It will tolerate a few hours of shade each day, although growth will be a little slower. It grows well in any moist soil, and even in flooded ground, so it is easy to grow beside a stream, lake or river. It grows in clay soils, and both alkaline and acid conditions, but not in dry, sandy soils.

Maintenance and Pruning

No significant maintenance is needed for the Weeping Golden Willow, but some formative pruning, to develop a few major limbs, is helpful. If you are growing this tree in ordinary garden conditions, use mulch, especially when young, and water frequently. It can suffer from several pests or diseases, but these are not usually major problems. Some storm damage may occur – another reason not to plant close to buildings or anywhere it could become a hazard.

History and Origin of the Weeping Golden Willow

The original weeping willow was the Peking willow, Salix babylonica, which occurred first in northern China. A distinctive form with hanging branches, called ‘Pendula’, was traded along the Silk Road, and for centuries it was planted in many areas through central and western Asia. That tree was found to be difficult to grow well in Europe because it is not sufficiently cold resistant. A related species, the white willow, Salix alba, grows throughout Europe. That tree has a form with yellow branches, called ‘Vitellina’, and this is the original golden willow. In the late 19th century, at the Späth Nursery in Berlin, Germany, a cross was made between these two species, which had the yellow twigs and cold resistance of the golden willow, and the weeping habit of the Peking willow. It was first released by the nursery in 1888, and this is the plant we know today as the Weeping Golden Willow. The basic cross between Peking willow and white willow is today called Salix x sepulcralis (the cross has been made several times), and this particular tree is called variety chrysocoma. It is also sometimes listed as Salix alba ‘Tristis’.

Buying the Weeping Golden Willow at The Tree Center

Planted in the right place the Weeping Golden Willow is so beautiful it will have you weeping too. A tree this close to the heart of so many people is always in high demand, so stock is always scarce. Order now while we still have plants available.

The Tri-Color Willow Tree has a smooth green-brown trunk about 4 feet tall, topped with a bushy cluster of many branches forming a rounded crown. The leaves are between 1 and 4 inches long and ½ to 1 inch wide, slender, with a smooth surface and a slightly curved, lance-like shape. The new growth is bright pink, and as the leaves mature they become a mixture of white and apple-green, with no two leaves the same. Every leaf is irregularly splashed and dappled with variable and fascinating patterns. As the leaves mature they will become greener, until by fall they turn bright yellow and drop, revealing the slender branches. Young branches are greenish-yellow, but in the cold of fall and winter, they turn red, shining brightly in the winter light. After a winter of bright red twigs, fluffy yellow catkins, like those well-known on the pussy willow, decorate the branches in early spring, before the season begins again with a fresh flush of brilliant pink shoots.

The wonderful ever-changing colors of the Tri-Color Willow Tree are a great addition to your garden, as a specimen on a small lawn, or for height in beds. A pair can be grown flanking an entrance or plant one as a focal point at the end of a path or driveway. Plant a row along a fence, spacing them perhaps 10 feet apart, for a colorful ‘formal’ look. You can also grow this plant in boxes or pots, with annual flowers or smaller shrubs beneath it. Whatever you do with this great little tree, you will love the brilliance of its colorful leaves.

You can grow the Tri-Color Willow Tree in all but the hottest and very coldest parts of the country. It should be planted in full sun for the best colors, but a couple of hours of shade a day will do no harm. It grows readily in any soil, including wet areas, which is a real bonus, as spots like that are hard to plant successfully. This tree is fast-growing, and it can reach a considerable size quickly, so regular pruning and trimming are key to keeping it in proportion and to the scale you want. The first step is pruning in spring, when the branches from the previous year should be cut back to just an inch or two in length, cutting at the top of the trunk. Do not cut below the point where the branches grow from the trunk and completely remove any stems that grow directly from the trunk or roots. New shoots will quickly grow several feet long in a very short time, and they should be lightly trimmed into the shape you want (a round ball or an upright flame-shape, for example) every few weeks. 

Not only with this regular trimming control the size of your tree, it will keep it covered with new, pink leaves, and avoid it turning green. Trim as often and as hard as you feel is necessary for the look you want. After a few years, a large ball of wood will develop at the top of the stem, and the branches can be cut cleanly off that ball each spring. This technique is called ‘pollarding’.

The Tri-Color Willow is a form of the dappled willow, Salix integra. That tree is found growing wild in Japan, Korea, and parts of China and eastern Russia. Although known for many years, it was rarely grown in gardens, because it is basically the Asian form of the European purple willow (Salix purpurea). However, in 1979 the Dutch botanist Harry van de Laar was in Japan, and he found an amazing plant there, with wildly colored leaves. We don’t know if it was growing wild or if he found it in a nursery. When he brought it back to Europe he called it ‘Hakuro-Nishiki’, which in Japanese means ‘hello to you’ – what better name could there be for a plant that gives us such a colorful greeting when we enter a garden where it is growing? Ever since then this plant has been a big hit, and we can never keep a supply available for very long. Order now and grow the ‘hello to you’ willow in your own garden – you are going to love it year-round beauty and easy growing.

Let’s start with the plant itself. The Flamingo Willow is a deciduous shrub or small tree, normally regularly pruned, but capable of becoming a 20-foot tree if left to grow naturally. The younger branches are bright yellow-green in spring and summer, turning rich red in the winter. Unusually, they develop most red color in warmer zones, with only the most recent growth turning red in cold regions. This is a very fast-growing tree, capable of adding as much as 3 feet a year, or even more, so it should be trimmed regularly. This also encourages the most colorful growth, and what colors they are. We don’t know another plant with such a range of vibrant colors in the foliage. The leaves are long and slender, between 1 and 4 inches long, and ½ to 1 inch wide, with a smooth surface and a slightly curved, lance-shaped form. 

New growth in spring and summer on the Flamingo Willow is brilliant flamingo pink, making a powerful impact in the garden, and shining out like a beacon. As the leaves mature, they become a dappled and irregular mixture of white and apple-green, with no two leaves looking alike. This white variegation also shines out, making this one of the most striking and conspicuous plants in any garden. As the leaves continue to mature they become greener, so if you don’t trim it, over the months of summer its brilliance will fade a little. With the cold nights of fall the leaves turn bright yellow, before falling and revealing the coral-red stems, which stay bright all winter.

As well, in early spring, just as the leaves are beginning to sprout, small catkins, reminiscent of pussy willow, but yellow rather than silver, appear all along the younger stems. These also make the tree look beautiful, although in a much more muted fashion. They last for a short time, before disappearing among the emerging foliage.

Use the Flamingo Willow wherever bright color is needed, in both sun and partial shade – and where don’t we want bright color in our gardens? Since it is easy to control both the size and form of this plant, it is incredibly versatile. Grow it as a specimen in a shrub bed, to really liven things up. Plant it in groups or in a row, for a vibrant accent along a path, driveway or fence – you control the height. Train it up into a single stem and keep it clipped into a rounded shape, for a fabulous accent plant in the garden or in a planter. From perhaps 3 feet tall, to 10 or 15 feet tall, you can control the size with pruning, and create a whole range of plants of different sizes. This plant grows well in damp or wet soil, and it looks beautiful bordering a pond, a stream or a lake. It can be a splash of color in a woodland garden too, beneath larger shade trees. 

The Flamingo Willow will grow in full sun or partial shade. In hotter zones some afternoon shade is beneficial, as the leaves can scorch in the hot sun, especially if the soil is dry. It will grow in all garden soils except for very dry and sandy ones. That includes wet, boggy areas, and this plant is ideal for sites like that, where most other plants won’t grow. It is not normally bothered by pests or diseases, and it is very, very easy to grow. Controlling the size and look is best done by two different methods. In late winter or early spring, before the new growth begins, carry out a full pruning, removing older branches and shortening back the remaining ones, to make the plant about two-thirds of the size you wish it to be in summer. Alternatively, maintain a framework of a few trunks, and prune back hard to the same places each year. Then, when the new growth fills in, trim regularly with shears to keep it well-shaped and controlled, to the size you want it. Every time you trim it will bounce back with a new flush of those wonderful flamingo pink shoots. Alternatively, if you are not so concerned with exact size, simply cut back almost to the ground in late winter each year or second year, and let it grow naturally after that. No matter how you grow it, you will love the versatility and beauty of this fabulous plant.

The Flamingo Willow is a unique form of the dappled willow, Salix integra. It grows in Japan, Korea, and northeastern China, as well as in the far southeast of Russia. In 1979 the Dutch botanist Harry van de Laar was in Japan, and he found a unique plant, with tri-colored leaves, growing there. It was called ‘Hakuro-Nishiki’, which in Japanese means ‘hello to you’, and he brought it back to Europe. In 1996 Peter Bontekoe, a grower specializing in willows, was growing this plant in his nursery, Salixkwekerij Bontekoe, in Boskoop, the Netherlands. He spotted one plant in the row which stood out, for its extra-bright pink new shoots, its darker-red twigs, and its sturdier, more upright growth habit. Its leaves are also more resistant to sun-scorch. He named it ‘Flamingo’ and patented it in America in 2007. Our plants are produced under license, and they are exactly this improved form of the Flamingo Willow. Every time this plant is available, it is snapped up by eager customers, so don’t hesitate, order now, because these plants will be gone very soon.

Growing Dwarf Arctic Willow Shrubs

The Dwarf Arctic Willow is a low, bushy, deciduous shrub that if left untouched will grow to around 5 feet tall, give or take a foot or so, depending on your garden conditions. It forms a full, rounded bush with branches right to the ground, and with many slender upright stems shooting from the base. The young shoots are purplish-green, turning light gray and then grayish brown as they age. The leaves are all along the stems, and they are narrow, up to 4 inches long, but only one-third of an inch wide. The upper surface of the leaf is softly glossy, and blue-green in color. The lower side of the leaf is light green, and as the leaves rustle in the wind the contrasting colors flash in the sunlight.

In a stronger breeze the whole plant will sway attractively, almost like an ornamental grass, adding life and interest to your garden picture. In fall the leaves turn yellow before falling to the ground, to be replaced of course by new leaves in spring. Before the leaves in spring you may notice small reddish-purple clusters of minute flowers. The whole structure is a little over an inch long, and called a catkin, they typical flowering structure of willow trees. These later turns whitish, and they release tiny seeds in summer.

Uses in Your Garden

Use the Dwarf Arctic Willow alone as a specimen shrub in a smaller garden, or mass planted in a larger one to fill background areas of your garden. It is ideal for those low-lying damper spots, or for planting along streams and beside ponds. It is widely used along stream banks and lakes, to stabilize the shoreline and prevent erosion.

In the garden you can create a calm, natural background to other plants, or quickly fill larger areas in the outer parts of your property. For a reliable shorter hedge, quickly grown in just a couple of years, it is hard to beat, and it is one of the quickest and easiest ways to grow a hedge in a new garden. Although often trimmed, it can be left untrimmed too, for a more modern, casual look that is still neat and organized.

Care and Maintenance

Every few years you can trim the plant close to the ground in early spring, to regenerate the dense, attractive long stems it produces. It can also be planted in a row to make an attractive, easily maintained low hedge, as short as 12 inches tall, but usually grown 2 or 3 feet tall. Regularly clipping will maintain a dense, neat structure. To plant a hedge, space the plants 12 to 18 inches apart. For mass planting with limited or no trimming, space the plants about 3 feet apart.

Planting Location

The Dwarf Arctic Willow grows well in all the cooler zones, including zone 3, where winter lows of minus 40 degrees are experienced. It grows best in full sun, but it will easily tolerate light shade for part of the day, and winter shade too. It grows well in all moist soils, including wet soils, and alongside ponds, streams and lakes. Once established it is resistant to the normal drought conditions found in cooler regions, but it is has only limited drought-resistance in hotter areas. It has no serious pests or diseases, and it is among the easiest and most reliable plants you can grow.

History and Origins of the Dwarf Arctic Willow

The Arctic Willow (Salix purpurea) is native across a broad area from Europe to western Asia, from North Africa up into the British Isles, and the Baltic region. It was introduced a long time ago into North America for conservation of river banks, and today it grows wild through much of southern Canada, around the Great Lakes, and in most north-eastern states. The wild tree grows between 9 and 18 feet tall, and just as wide, making it too large for most home gardens.

The dwarf form, called ‘Gracilis’, which is also known as ‘Nana’, was developed around 1900, probably in Europe. It has thinner, more abundant twigs, and reaches a much smaller height of around 5 feet. It was once grown for twigs to make willow baskets. This is the recommended form for garden use, and the form normally seen in landscapes.

This tough and reliable plant is always in demand, and no wonder – it is so versatile and useful in any garden. Our top-quality stock will soon be taken by our clients, so order now and quickly solve a whole range of garden needs.

When not flowering, Pussy Willow is an upright shrub with narrow-oval shaped leaves up to 6 inches long. The young branches are an attractive glossy deep brown color. This is a fast-growing plant, which will grow 3 feet or more in a season. It makes an excellent informal screen around your property, especially if you have damp or wet conditions. It also grows well along streams and beside ponds and lakes. It will also grow happily in regular garden soil, although it is not particularly drought-resistant. In fall the leaves turn yellow before dropping to the ground, showing the beautiful branches and fat, grey buds.

Because we have specially-selected male trees, we know there will be a big demand for this popular tree to brighten the dark days of winter. Order now and avoid the disappointment of missing out on this very special and unique plant.

Growing Pussy Willows

This variety of Pussy Willow (Salix caprea) is considered the best of several Willow species that produce large catkins. It is also called Goat Willow and sometimes French Willow, as it comes originally from Europe, where it is native. It also grows wild across western and central Asia. In northern countries, from Russia and Poland to western Europe, it has been used for centuries at Easter to replace the palm used on Palm Sunday. Groups such as the Polish people, brought this habit to America when they migrated.

It is often already in bloom by Easter, while other plants are still dormant, or it can easily be forced into bloom indoors. This plant, like other Willows, has separate male and female trees, and only the male trees produce the attractive catkins. Our plants are all male plants, which produce the best catkins, while cheaper seedling trees will be unknown and half of them will not flower attractively.

Planting Location

When planting your Pussy Willow tree, choose a spot in full sun or partial shade. If you are not planning to prune it regularly, allow enough room for it to grow, as it can become 12 to 15 feet wide. An unpruned tree may be 15 to 25 feet tall, so it is excellent planted at the back of a larger garden. It has a few pests and diseases, but none that are serious, and regular pruning will keep it healthy. This is a very easy plant to grow in any garden, and children love the soft, fuzzy buds.

Pruning

Most gardeners prune this plant regularly, to keep it smaller and make it produce lots of long young branches with plenty of catkins, for cutting. This is easy to do – simply cut down the tree almost to the ground in spring after flowering. It will quickly re-sprout into a dense, bushy plant and be ready to flower again by the next spring. It is easy to bring this plant into flower indoors. Any time from early February on, simply cut as many young branches as you want, bring them indoors and place them in a vase of water. You can tell which stems will flower, because the buds will be large and fuzzy, while buds that just produce leaves are smaller and shiny.

Within a couple of weeks or a few days, the buds will open, grow long and become like little yellow brushes. Stems cut before February will usually not open, as a period of cold weather is needed to get the plants ready to wake up. The closer to spring it is, the quicker the buds will open. They will of course also open naturally outdoors in early spring, as soon as the weather outside becomes a little warmer.

Misconceptions

Willow trees have a bad reputation for blocking drains and become very large, but the Pussy Willow is a much smaller tree that, while it should not be planted near buildings or drains, does not make the same problems as larger Willow trees do. If you have a larger property and plant several trees, there is a good demand for bunches of Pussy Willow at Farmer’s Markets in spring, and this is a good way to make your garden pay you back – at least in part.

The black willow offers some very unique properties that set it apart from most other trees of similar size. Native to North America, it can be found growing beside water courses with its shallow roots providing support for the soil around it. It has long been used as a way to naturally strengthen riverbanks that would otherwise fall foul of soil erosion, and it quite enjoys the fertile silt and fresh earth left behind by flood waters. These properties give the black willow some very practical uses when it comes to planting placement. They do not tolerate drought well though, and so do need to be in a position where they are almost continually moist, and along with this they need to be in full sun as they suffer in partial shade

Once planted the willow will send out suckers in order to create a group and if these new trees become too crowded they will block the light of the smaller members of the cluster, so it is best to thin them out to avoid unnecessary losses. Of course, if you want to encourage the growth of one strong specimen then its attempts to spread are easily curtailed by removing the suckers as they appear.

These are trees that grow fast – as much as four feet per year – and because of this, they have long been used for wickerwork as the young branches are malleable and whippy. It is also common to see willow used in screens and fences, as well as conservatory and garden furniture, thanks to the nature of the branches; they bend and weave very well, giving a tight construction and attractive finish.

Quite aside from the practical uses of these trees they are utterly wonderful to behold, with a texture and movement rarely seen in other trees. They bear an abundance of small narrow leaves whose underside is a shade or two lighter than the upper leaf, and the effect of this creates a beautiful shimmering display when touched by a breeze. When the catkins appear they draw a good many bees, butterflies and flying insects that love the nectar they offer, and when the seeds take flight themselves it always appeals to the wonder of children everywhere to see the tiny white fluffy seedlings floating around. The black willow has a strong relationship with many creatures for both protection and food.

For Food

• White-tailed deer
• Eastern cottontail
• Honey bee
• European gypsy moth
• Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
• Beaver

For Shelter

• Pileated woodpecker
• Black rat snake
• Barred owl
• Luna moth
• Big brown bat
• Wood duck

There are a great many more insects and animals that benefit from the black willow so as you can see there is a lot to be gained by bringing one of these trees into the right space.

Although there are a few pests that can cause trouble for these lovely trees, it is unlikely that they will kill it completely. Worth watching out for are the forest tent caterpillar, the cottonwood leaf beetle and the imported willow leaf beetle which can defoliate willow trees.

The Corkscrew Willow is a hardy, fast-growing tree that will grow 2 to 3 feet a year and can be grown from zone 4 to zone 8 in any type of soil. It will do best in damper soil and even wet soil, so it is an ideal specimen to plant along a stream, by a lake or near a large pond, where it will reflect its beauty in the water and look even more romantic.

A tree as exotic and attractive as this is always in high demand, so although we receive regular shipments, shortages can occur. If you want to enjoy this unique and beautiful tree in your own garden, make sure you order now to avoid being disappointed.

Growing Corkscrew Willows

The Corkscrew is quite small for a Willow tree and it does not have the same large root system that other willows do. Of all the willows it best suited for smaller gardens and since it can be pruned very hard if needed, its growth can be controlled for almost any space. If your garden is extremely small, or you have just a courtyard or terrace, this tree makes an exotic hardy plant for a container, where it can be pruned back and even grown as a bonsai, to give an oriental feel to the simplest garden.

Climate

This tree can be grown everywhere except for the coldest parts of the mid-west and the warmest parts of the South and the West Coast. It will grow in any soil, from sand to clay and from acid to alkaline, as long as it is not dry. Established trees can tolerate periods of drought, but this tree does best in damp or even wet soil where many other trees will not grow, so it is an ideal choice for planting by water.

Planting Location

It looks lovely reflected in a pond or stream and seems most at home in that kind of location. If you just have a small pond, plant this tree in a large, attractive pot and stand it by that pond. It can also give an instant oriental look to the garden and is an ideal choice for a potted tree in a courtyard or on a terrace. The Corkscrew Willow will grow in full sun or partial shade. It can have some minor pest problems but these are rarely serious and it is resistant to deer and is non-invasive, so it is an ideal choice for a larger country property.

Growth Rate and Appearance

This tree will quickly grow 20 to 30 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide, with a semi-upright habit. The stems grow upright at a narrow angle to the main trunk, before gracefully curving over to a horizontal position as they mature. All parts of the tree are twisted, from the leaves to the branches and the young shoots. The young stems are olive-green, turning light brown as they mature and the bark on the main trunk is dark-brown, roughly textured and attractive.

The flowers are small, green ‘catkins’ that are less than an inch long and hidden among the new leaves in spring. The leaves are 2 to 4 inches long, narrow, spear-shaped and twisted. They are an attractive yellow-green in spring, turning to a fresh, light-green all summer and then making a lovely display in fall when the whole tree turns a bright, clear yellow.

History and Origins of the Corkscrew Willow

The Corkscrew Willow is a special form of the Chinese Willow (Salix matsudana). This tree, as you might guess, grows wild in northern China and is one of around 400 types of Willows found in all countries of the Northern Hemisphere. The wild form of this plant is rarely seen outside China, but the twisted form (Salix matsudana ‘Tortuosa’), which is the Corkscrew Willow, was brought to America in 1923 by the famous Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University and distributed across the country to become a favorite tree of all gardeners.

A tree with such an unusual form must be grown the correct way, from stem pieces of properly identified plants. Our trees are produced in this way, so avoid cheaper seedling trees that will not have any of this trees exotic qualities and beauty.

Planting and Caring For Your Corkscrew Willow

To plant your Corkscrew Willow, choose a location where the tree will have room to develop and dig a hole that is twice the width of the pot. Place the tree at the same depth or just a little deeper than it was in the pot and replace most of the soil. Water well and when the water has all drained away replace the rest of the soil. Water weekly during the first season and then keep your tree moist, especially in summer.

If your Corkscrew Willow should become too large it can easily be pruned as much as needed. It can even be cut right back to the trunk and it will quickly re-sprout and grow back rapidly. With regular pruning it can be kept to almost any size, especially when growing in a container.

Weeping Willow will easily grow six or even eight feet a year, making it perhaps the fastest growing tree available. When freshly planted it will usually grow rapidly to ten feet or more and then start to spread outwards, sending down its characteristic slender hanging branches. It is not suitable for hedges, but it can be used singly or in a row for an informal screen to block an unsightly view.

We sell only trees that are from the best forms and we have a wide range of sizes to give you the best plant for your purpose. However, we are constantly renewing our stock to make sure our customers get fresh, healthy plants, so supplies of this tree may be limited. To avoid disappointment order now.

Growing Weeping Willows

Many properties have problem damp areas, drainage ditches, streams, or you may even be lucky enough to live along a river or lake. Weeping Willow is the ideal tree-choice for those situations as it thrives in damp and even wet soil and looks so beautiful hanging out over water. It will, however, grow very well in normal soil and once established even tolerate dry periods. Weeping Willow should not be planted close to buildings or drainage lines as the root system may cause damage searching for water.

Pests and Diseases

There are usually no pests which attack the Weeping Willow, so damaged or destroyed foliage is not an issue. Willow Blight, which can be a serious problem with other types of willows, is rarely seen on Weeping Willow except in the north-west. Weeping Willow is occasionally nibbled by deer, but this is only going to be a possible problem during the early years as the tree will soon be too tall to be reached.

Growth Rate and Appearance

A mature Weeping Willow is a tree of great beauty, reaching 40 feet in height in time, with a spread of around 30 feet or more. So choose a planting spot where it can mature and be appreciated. It grows a strong central trunk with a deeply ridged, light-brown attractive bark. Several strong branches will grow out and the long pendulous leafy branches will descend from these almost to the ground. These branches can easily be trimmed as needed to create a beautiful shady spot to sit under or hold a family barbeque.

The leaves come early in the spring; Weeping Willow is one of the first trees to leaf out. The leaves are long, slightly twisted and hang down from the branches. They stay on the tree late into the fall, eventually dropping to reveal the graceful form of the branches. The flowers are insignificant, so flower and fruit drop is not an issue with this tree. Weeping Willow does best in full-sun but it can be planted among other trees where it will quickly grow up into the sun. It usually requires no pruning, but branches can be trimmed in winter to reduce the size a little. If the tree does grow too large it can be cut back as much as needed. New branches will quickly shoot from the bare trunks.

Hardiness

Weeping Willow is hardy in zones 4 to 9, which means that it will thrive throughout the United States, except for the southern tip of Florida and the northern parts of Minnesota, Montana and North Dakota. So wherever you live you can almost certainly grow this beautiful tree. If you have a small garden it is possible to grow this tree in a very large container, like a half-barrel, where it will grow more slowly and can be contained so you can enjoy its beauty for quite a few years.

Soil Conditions

It will be happy in almost all types of soil, except very sandy, dry soils. It will do best where there is an adequate supply of water, especially in spring, but will grow happily under most conditions. Of course if you are planting in normal soil that is not constantly moist, it should receive some extra water during the first year or two until it becomes established. Fertilizer is rarely necessary as this tree has deep roots that will find their own food.

Planting Location

Because this is a large tree, it should be planted in an open area away from buildings. Dig a large hole twice as wide as the container or root-ball and mix in some organic material like compost or peat-moss. Plant the tree to the same depth as the container it was in, replace some of the soil, firm it down with your feet, water well and then fill in the hole. Your tree will be off to the best start you can give it.

History and Origins of the Weeping Willow

The Weeping Willow arrived in Europe in 1730, from China, where it had been grown for centuries. The popular ‘Willow Pattern’ plate shows this tree in a traditional Chinese setting. From those original trees (Salix babylonica) various selections and hybrids have been developed to give hardier trees that do better in North American conditions.

Since it was introduced from China, plant breeders have worked to produce forms of the Weeping Willow that are hardier, not susceptible to spring frost and are resistant to disease. Our trees are from the best selections and are grown from branch cuttings, not seed, to ensure that these special characteristics are present in every tree produced.

Some gardeners also choose to plant the Tri Color Willow as an individual accent plant. Unlike many evergreen shrubs, the deciduous quality of this Willow make an interesting and unique plant. Its seasonal changes also attract attention throughout the year. The Tri Color Willow is so-named because of its changing colors. Pink tinted new growth changes to white-tinted green growth in summer, finally settling into red twigs to add garden zest in winter. Plant one today!

Growing Tri Color Willows

The Tri Color Willow carries the fast-growing characteristic of much of its Salix genus and will experience between 3 and 5 feet of growth a year. Expect fast-growth, and this Willow will quickly reach its 8-10 foot mature height in a few short seasons. This is one of the qualities that make it excellent for privacy screens.

What makes the Tri Color Willow a unique privacy screen plant? There are many privacy trees available at The Tree Center, yet the Tri Color Willow is special because it is different from many other privacy options. The Willow is a deciduous tree, meaning seasonal changes will affect its appearance. This is what gives the Tri Color Willow its unique color and change. In spring, the new growth of the Tri Color Willow is pink-tinted, offering a unique springtime show. In summer, the leaves turn a light whitish-green that contrasts beautifully with the dark greens of other growth. In fall and winter, the leaves turn yellow, falling, and revealing bright red twigs that add even winter seasonal interest.

Pruning and Maintenance

The Tri Color Willow is also easy to grow. Although pruning this Willow is not needed, many first-time gardeners choose to prune. The hardy tree can have up to 1/3 of its branches cut with minimal effect on the root system and next-season growth. The Tri Color Willow is also relatively hardy. Even though it prefers moderate to heavy watering, the Tri Color Willow can survive mild droughts. This Willow tree can also survive short cold spells, making it a great shrub and privacy hedge for many northern regions of the United States.

Using as a Privacy Screen

When the Tri Color Willow reaches maturity, it will be between 8 and 10 feet tall and between 8 and 10 feet wide. This makes it an excellent privacy screen, since fewer of them will have to be planted in order to create a privacy hedge. Some landscapers do choose to prune the Tri Color Willow to between 6 and 8 feet tall.

Quality of our Tri Color Dappled Willows

Beware of false Willows! Some nurseries and self-proclaimed arborists will attempt to cut costs by replacing the Tri Color Willow with cheaper, low-quality varieties. These varieties, even given exquisite home care, will not demonstrate the rapid growth rate, seasonal coloring, and other qualities that make the Tri Color Willow valuable. The Tree Center employs qualified and highly trained staff who provide the tender love and care young Tri Color Willow saplings need in order to display the qualities for which they are revered. If you are planning on buying a Tri Color Willow, be sure to order your specimen from the trusted plant lovers at The Tree Center!

Next to buying your tree from a reputable nursery like The Tree Center, the best way to ensure you receive the beauty and growth the Tri Color Willow offers is to take proper planting guidelines into consideration.

Planting Your Tri Color Dappled Willow

Find a location in full sun or partial shade. The soil should be moist and well-draining; however, the Tri Color Willow easily adapts to less ideal soil conditions. Dig a hole twice the size of the Tri Color Willow’s root ball. The hole should be 1 inch less deep than the root ball’s height, since the tree will settle over time. Hold the tree vertically in the hole. Then, backfill the hole with soil and water. Mulch is a great tool to use with Willows, since they prefer moderate to heavy watering. If you choose to use mulch, add a 3-inch layer in a 3-foot radius around the base of the tree. Water immediately.

Hardiness

The Tri Color Willow is rated to perform in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9, covering much of the United States. Some homeowners choose to grow the plant in a container and bring it inside during extensive winter cold spells. The Tri Color Willow prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil that remains moist; however, the tree adapts well to other soils.

Watering

The beautiful Tri Color Willow is hardy and relatively adaptive; however, it does require moderate to heavy watering. It can withstand short, mild dry spells, but should be watered once a week if rainfall is less than 1 inch. It is important to not overwater the Tri Color Willow. Simply create a regular watering schedule. This is especially important in the first season. Once established, the Tri Color Willow is much more able to manage short dry spells than other of its genus.