Salix matsudana 'Tortousa' | Corkscrew Willow
Beautifully contorted branches enveloped in vibrant green foliage
Arguably one of the most unique looking trees to ever grace a garden, Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa' will become an enchanting focal point with its contorted branches and beautiful greenery. Lifeful green foliage intertwines around each copper coloured stem, earning the name 'Corkscrew Willow'. These twists and spirals throw the foliage in a spray of directions creating a wild, energetic vagrant of a tree! Come spring, inconspicuous yellow catkins will also appear.
Variety Information
- Habit: Columnar/upright
- Foliage Colour: Bright green
- Flowers?: Yes, yellow catkins will appear in spring
- Features: Green foliage, unique shape, adaptive growing nature.
- Supplied As: 9 litre pot
- Height on Arrival Height can vary depending on when you purchase your tree, and what rootstock and variety combination you buy: 150cm (5ft)
- Age: 2 Years
- Eventual Height & Spread Eventual size depends on both environmental and genetic conditions: 15m x 8m (49ft x 26ft) (Based on 20 - 50 years)
Packaging
We have developed an eco friendly pot that is currently in use across our 9 litre range. This pot has less than 20% of the plastic used by a regular pot, and is importantly recyclable. These pots also prevent root spiralling, encouraging a healthier root system.
All trees arrive in an extra thick cardboard box with a clamp to hold their pot in place. This prevents them from moving around on their journey.
Nursery staff will wrap the roots of our bare root trees and use compost to keep them moist during transportation. This extra protection prevents them from drying out, allowing for a flying start. We also use the same specialised box that our potted trees have to keep them nice and secure as they make their way to your home.
Please note: where your plant is supplied with a pot, your plant's 'Height on Arrival' includes the pot
Easy to grow, a willow tree will make a perfect first tree. Your tree's growth and output will likely be excellent providing you follow our planting and care instructions. Below we address some common query topics:
- Hardiness: Willow trees are native to the UK and so these mild winters will not affect your tree.
- Position: Willow trees are best planted in full sun, however they will also cope in more shaded locations, but avoid full shade as this can cause them to die back.
- Soil: Soil types can be an unwelcome confusion as many plants will adapt to their conditions. Nonetheless, less than ideal conditions will certainly limit your willow tree's growth. Waterlogged soils will starve your tree of oxygen, which plays a key role in photosynthesis; causing its roots to rot and creating an optimal environment for disease. Try to also avoid compressing the soil when planting.
Advice on hot and droopy plants
If your plants are looking a little wilted right now, don’t worry! Plants like to be filled with water to keep their structure, and when it’s hot that water evaporates.
Just give them an off-schedule watering and they’ll be right as rain in no time! Be careful not to flood them - plants don’t like extremes.
- Watering: Bare root trees should have their roots soaked in water for up to 2 hours before planting, while with containerised trees, it is important to drench their root ball before planting.
- Pruning: Another difference is that for bare root trees, it is useful to prune their woody roots back a few inches. However, for containerised trees, you should free any spiralised roots growing around their rootball's circumference.
- Planting: With bare root trees, you should dig a hole to enable the graft point to be above the soil, while with containerised trees, the pot should sit no lower than an inch below the ground.
- With both, you should dig a hole that is twice the radius of their rootball. Stake your trees no more than 2 - 3 inches from the stem, and make sure that they are pointing away from the prevailing wind.
- Fill the planting hole with a mix of compost and garden soil, finishing with fertiliser and mycorrhizal fungi. Take care to not compress the soil.
- Once you are happy with your efforts, give your tree a generous watering.
- Add mulch on top (this can be bark and wood chippings, compost, manure, leaf-mould, and stones), and ensure that these do not touch the stem of the tree.
- Tie the stake to your tree (and leave space for growth), and place a rabbit guard around your tree to protect it from harmful pests.
- Apply fertiliser and replace decomposed mulch come spring. In autumn, remove fallen leaves to prevent the risk of disease. You should also make sure that the ties are not rubbing your tree.
| Is Collection/Mix? | No |
|---|---|
| Needs Ericaceous Compost? | No |