Willow trees
Willow trees, or Salix to use their Latin name, are slender, deciduous trees, often with a graceful, weeping habit. Thriving in wet, boggy conditions, there is nothing more beautiful than the pendulous branches of a golden weeping willow grown near a pond creating a reflection off the water. Salix trees typically have elongated, lance-shaped leaves with serrated edges and are often used for erosion control near streams where their interlacing roots will hold back the soil. Willow branches can be used to make living fences or even sculptures and the branches are commonly used for weaving and basketry as the wood is pliable enough to be bent after soaking in water. Some varieties bear large and fluffy, decorative catkins between March and April, which are great for flower arrangements and help add a splash of colour and interest to the garden before the leaves start to emerge. Just bear in mind that willows are fast growing and some varieties reach a large size – so make sure you have enough space to accommodate the eventual height and spread of your tree to avoid having to hack it back to keep it within bounds in the future. Some of our plants are supplied grafted onto a root stock to form a densely-crowned, weeping tree with a dense head of stiff, pendulous shoots.