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Salix alba var. vitellina 'Britzensis' (m)
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

coral bark willow

A vigorous medium-sized deciduous tree of compact habit, with bright red young shoots and narrow lanceolate mid-green leaves and insignificant yellowish catkins with the young leaves in spring

Other common names
scarlet willow
Synonyms
Salix alba subsp. vitellina 'Britzensis'
Salix alba 'Chermesina' hort.
see moreSalix alba 'Britzensis'
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Size
Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres
Time to ultimate height
20–50 years
Ultimate spread
Wider than 8 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Yellow Green
Summer Green
Autumn
Winter Orange Red
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

West–facing or East–facing or South–facing or North–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Salicaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
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

An easy to grow fast-growing tree for sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Coastal
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Hedging and screens
Pruning

Pruning group 1. Suitable for pollarding every 3-4 years and coppicing

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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