Information on Twisted Willow Trees
Twisted willow trees, or corkscrew willows, provide immense visual interest with a display of twisting twigs and branches. Occurring on the Tortuosa cultivar of Salix matsudana, these trees are most often used in the home landscape as specimen trees, but, as they are problematic trees, home gardeners must be prepared for a high level of maintenance, according to the Michigan State University Extension. Does this Spark an idea?
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Features
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Twisted willow trees display an upright form and reach a height of approximately 40 feet with a spread of 25 feet. With a fast growth rate of 18 inches a year, these trees are visual stunners but do not have very long lives. Also referred to as pekin willow or hankow willow, the deciduous twisted willow tree usually displays multiple trunks and green simple leaves that exhibit a yellow color during fall.
Culture
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Thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8, the twisted willow tree prefers locations that provide full sun to partial shade for best development. Though this tree tolerates all soil types as well as temporarily wet sites, salt spray, drought and acid to alkaline pH levels, the best soil conditions for twisted willows are moist and well-drained.
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Problems
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Twisted willow trees are problematic in the home garden because of their weak wood and susceptibility to disease. Extremely damaging within a short period of time is fungal scab disease, according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension. Home gardeners should examine their trees for black or olive green spots or, as the name suggests, scabs, on leaf surfaces. Quickly leading to leaf drop, this aggressive disease calls for the pruning and destruction of infected plant parts. For further control gardeners should avoid overhead irrigation that promotes fungal growth and apply a sulfur-based fungicide for effective chemical control, according to the University of California Integrated Pest Management Online.
Considerations
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The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension explains that, although the tree is satisfactory for use in the home landscape, the problems and short lifespan associated with twisted willows make it a poor candidate for street growth. The growth of aggressive roots, as well, means growers need to exercise careful placement to prevent structural damage to homes or sidewalks. Weak wood and likelihood of breakage alerts home gardeners with small children or pets to think twice before selecting twisted willows for the landscape as they pose significant threat of injury. Additionally, this willow tree is known for producing significant leaf litter that increases the need for maintenance and cleanup.
However, twisted willow trees do have the benefit of good deer resistance. For those home gardeners commonly visited by hungry deer, the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station gives twisted willow trees a grade of a "B" for deer resistance. An "A" means rarely damaged, a "B" means seldom severely damaged, a "C" means occasionally severely damaged and a "D" translates into frequently severely damaged on the Rutgers scale.
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References
- Photo Credit twisted willow image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
