04/01/2025
Descriptions of the willow varieties at the farm:
Americana ~ Salix x 'Americana', American Hybrid Willow
Points of interest: This willow produces great rods that turn reddish brown when dry and is very popular for basketry and furniture making. It can be used for living structures like fencing and trellising and can be woven into living structures.
Exposure: full sun
Soil humidity: moist soil
Flower colour: catkins start grey, turn red and then yellow
Fragrance: non-fragrant
Flowering period: April to May
Foliage: bright green
Hardiness zone 3a: -40 °C (-40 °F)
Mature height & width (max.): height: 10 ft (3 m) width: 10 ft (3 m)
Use: screens, hedges, specimen, basketry rods, furniture rods, trellis rods as Salixx 'Americana' consistently produces high selling basketry willow. A medium shrub that grows to 10 ft (3 m) with almost no side branching, it is a natural for basketry rod production. Long straight stems start yellow green, and turn a rich golden to reddish brown by end of season. When soaked for weaving they dry a unique reddish-brown. The rods can easily be forced by coppicing to grow to a larger diameter, making them perfect for rustic structures and furniture. Attractive male catkins start grey, turn red, and eventually yellow with pollen. This shrub produces an abundance of bright foliage. The tops of the leaves are a bright olive green, and the undersides of the leaves are slightly bluish-green. Attracts, and is pollinated by bees.
Black maul ~ Salix triandra 'Black Maul', Black Maul Almond Willow, Black Maul Almond-leaved Willow
Points of interest: This is an upright shrub with long flexible rods, highly used in basketry. Black Mail is a heritage willow that has been highly regarded in the basketry industry. The flexible and durability of the rods make it a popular choice for beginners in basketry. The stems are brown when dried. Black Maul is ideal for hedging.
Exposure: full sun to partial shade
Soil humidity: moist soil
Flower colour: yellow
Fragrance: non-fragrant
Flowering period: March to April
Foliage: green
Hardiness zone 4a: -34.5 °C (-30 °F)
Mature height & width (max.): height: width: 15 ft (4.5 m) width: 10 ft (3 m)
Use: specimen, hedge, basketry, living structure, fedges. Black Maul Willow is widely used for basketry, especially in Europe where it has a long history. The straight stems are dark burgundy in the summer and turn darker in the winter. To produce the long, straight rods it's best to coppice. The green leaves are slightly furry at first and later become smooth and shiny. This ornamental shrub attracts butterflies and bees. It is a multipurpose willow and isideal as hedging, basketry and living structures. The dried rod colour is brown to light olive green and only takes on a black hue when steamed.
Flame, Salix x fragilis f. vitellina ‘Flame’ Red, Red Flame Willow, Red-orange Willow, Red-orange-stemmed Willow
Points of interest: Shrub or small tree reaching 12-20 ft with bright red to orange fresh stems It is a showy addition to the landscape and the stems can be used for fresh flower arrangements and in the winter garden. They are often used as windbreaks, shelter-belts and ornamental features. The rods dry to a shiny reddish-brown making them a good choice for cut flower arrangements. They can be used in wattle, sculptural forms and living fences. The rods are suitable for basketry but the weavers are somewhat brittle for weaving.
Exposure: full sun
Soil humidity: moist to wet soil
Flower colour: yellowish green
Fragrance: non-fragrant
Flowering period: May
Foliage: bright green
Hardiness zone 3a: -40 °C (-40 °F)
Mature height & width (max.): height: 12 ft (3.6 m) width: 8 ft (2.4 m)
Use: flower arrangements, winter colour, hedges, screens, basketry rods, naturalized gardens, cut flower arrangements, highly ornamental colour. Fresh stem colour; orange-red. Dried rod colour: shiny reddish-brown.
Hutchisons Yellow, Salix rubens ‘Hutchinsons Yellow’
Points of interest: this willow has great colour making it ideal for brightening the landscape and is especially fun in winter as the colours intensify. The rods can be used for weaving contrasting strips in baskets. It tolerates damp and wet places, can be used in living structures and attracts pollinators.
Exposure: full sun, exposed or sheltered
Soil humidity: moist and wet
Habit: bushy
Flower colour: green and yellow
Fragrance: non descript
Flowering period: Spring
Foliage: green to yellow
Hardiness zone: 4
Mature height & width (max.): height: 6m (10-20yrs) width: 5m (10-20yrs) - Growth rate: fast
Use: winter interest. attracts bees and butterflies, hardy and suitable for wildlife and informal gardens, living willow structure, basketry
Koriyanagi, Salix Koryanagi 'Rubykins'
Points of interest: Used for structures and weaving having very straight rods that dry well. This is a plant with winter interest, is deer tolerant, meaning it will recover from deer pressure and it is black walnut tolerant.
Exposure: full sun to part shade
Soil humidity: medium to wet
Flower colour: red catkins
Fragrance: non descript
Flowering period: Early Spring, (female)
Foliage: bluish green
Hardiness zone: 3 – 11
Mature height & width (max.): height: width: 15 ft high, 8 ft wide
Use: basketry, living structures
Blue/Purple acutifolia - Salix acutifolia, Long-leaved Violet,Sharpleaf Willow
Points of interest: needs ample water when first planted but drought tolerant once fully established. It has Winter interest with dark purple twigs when young. It is used for living willow forms and basketry – not the best weaver but good for rods and as a pollinator.
Exposure: : full sun to part shade
Soil humidity: moist, not wet
Habit: grows into a large shrub if not pruned
Flower colour: whitish silver
Fragrance: nondescript
Flowering period: March through April
Foliage: bright green and weeping turning bright yellow in Fall
Hardiness: zone 2-8
Mature height & width (max.): height: 33’ (10m) width: 39’ (12m)
Use: shelter-belts, basketry, living structures
