Corkscrew Willow – (Salix matsudana ‘Tortuosa’)
Fast-growing and full of grace, the Corkscrew Willow will make an eclectic addition to your garden or landscape that will set it apart from all others. As its name implies, the Corkscrew’s interesting branch system twists horizontally and forks vertically, giving it a distinctive look that redefines one-of-a-kind looks in your landscape. Springtime brings delicate buds that sprout upon twisted branches, followed by graceful summertime leaves that help provide shade. As autumn approaches, the Corkscrew Willow’s leaves morph to a brilliant yellow that’s sure to draw attention. But if your growth requirement is speed, this is the tree for you. In fact, the Corkscrew Willow grows so fast you should take that into consideration when determining the planting location. Plus, full sun, partial shade, or even poor soil quality won’t faze the growth of the adaptable Corkscrew Willow.
Its broad crown displays drooping twisted branches. This upright tree has gray-brown bark, smooth with diamond shaped lenticels in youth, rough and shallowly fissured when mature. Twisted, contorted twigs start slender, olive-green when young and mature to gray-brown. Like the twigs, leaves are often twisted. Foliage is simple, alternate, narrow, oval shaped, and finely serrated. Each leaf is shiny green above and off-white beneath. Fuzzy pale yellow-green flowers, called “catkins,” appear in early spring with the leaves. Each catkin is about one inch long. As these blooms mature, fruit appears in the form of one-inch clusters, small light brown fuzzy capsules that contain many small fuzzy seeds. These fruits ripen in late spring. This plant offers unique contorted branches, changing foliage, and fuzzy flowers that add texture to the landscape from suburban to beachside properties. Attracting butterflies in the warm months and producing fruit in the fall, this hardy plant provides year-round interest. Corkscrew Willow is a fast-growing multi-stemmed tree (or shrub). When planting, space 30 to 40 feet. Plant in a sunny location. Corkscrew Willow prefers full sun, though it will grow in part shade to part sun. Prune in late winter to early spring. When damaged or dead branches are pruned annually, the tree will stay healthy. Air and sunlight will keep the bark healthy and ensure it is less prone to insect damage.