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Violet Willow
Salix daphnoidesAbout this product
Salix daphnoides is an interesting Willow specimen exhibiting purple-violet shoots with new growth.
Also known as Violet Willow, it was introduced into the UK in the late 1820s and is believed to have been found in the wild from 1905 onwards. It is native to Northern Europe, Central Asia, and the Himalayas and won the RHS Award of Merit in 1957.
The foliage of the Violet Willow is bright green and has a glossy, waxy coating.
The leaf shape is similar to that of most willows: slender and pointed, it turns a golden yellow in autumn.
The catkins appear in spring and contrast markedly with the bright purple-violet stems.
Salix daphnoides is slightly smaller at maturity than other willows, yet it is still considered vigorous.
It thrives on most soils, including wet ones and, like all Willows, is a super choice for routine coppicing. Coppicing or pollarding not only has the capability to manage the ultimate height of this pretty tree but also allows for its most prolific feature, the violet-purple stems, to be enjoyed as fully as possible.
Pruning such as this is best done in winter when the trees are not in leaf.
Therefore, The Violet Willow is a great candidate for smaller gardens with wet soil.
Mature height: 7-12m