Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa' (f)
dragon's claw willow
A fast-growing medium-sized deciduous tree of upright habit, with narrow, twisted leaves glaucous beneath. Branches and shoots are strongly contorted. Insignificant yellowish catkins
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Size
Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metresTime to ultimate height
20–50 yearsUltimate spread
4–8 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Yellow | Green Grey Silver | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green Grey Silver | |||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Salicaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Genus
Salix are deciduous shrubs and trees of diverse habit, with simple leaves and tiny flowers in catkins, male and female usually on separate plants. Some are valued for their brightly coloured winter shoots, others for their foliage or showy male catkins
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile deep soil in full sun. Very fast growing
Propagation
Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Architectural
- Low Maintenance
Pruning
Pruning group 1. Suitable for hard pruning to rejuvenate or pollarding
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, leaf beetles, sawflies, willow scale
Diseases
May be susceptible to willow anthracnose, scab, canker, honey fungus and rust
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