Okay, when I look at the bare corkscrew willow tree, the first thing that comes to mind is walking through a dark forest at night with the moon 🌙 shining through and the tree looking as if something huge with arms reaching out to you.
Sorry, I just had to say this. But actually, the twisted branches are this tree’s main appeal making it superb to grow in the garden, especially for Halloween. 👻 While this tree grows slender initially, the leaves often develop twisted and have shiny green foliage.
But how do you care for the corkscrew willow, and what are their needs? Well, sit back and enjoy all the information here to help you get to know your tree and tips for caring for it.
More About Corkscrew Willow Tree
The main attraction of the corkscrew will is, of course, the contorted twisted twigs. The olive-green color matures to gray-brown, and the foliage is often twisted. The beautiful tree has a gray-brown bark shaped with diamond lenticels when young.
A mature tree becomes more fissured, with shiny green foliage that alternates and is narrow but oval-shaped and serrated. In early spring, yellow-green catkins or flowers form on the contorted branches. It turns to fuzzy capsules with tiny fuzzy seeds.
As the fall arrives, the corkscrew willows add winter interest to the garden with the yellow leaves and drop to the ground. Then you see the Salix matsudana twigs stand out, making for a unique interest in the garden.
Varieties of Curly Willow Trees
You can find two popular willow trees that look similar to the form with twisted twigs, but check out the shop for five corkscrew willow cuttings sold at an affordable price.
A naturally occurring willow cultivar is the Golden Curly willow with golden twisted branches with a weeping form.
A trademark cultivar is the Scarlet Curls, with golden twisted twigs that turn scarlet in winter with curly leaves.
Corkscrew Willow Care
The best planting location for corkscrew willows is full sunlight with some shade and planted in spring or summer. According to the University of Florida, the tree grows fast and needs ample space to spread as it reaches 20 feet or more.
The fast-growing tree🎄 has one caveat it is a short-lived species, and you can expect to replace it in 15 to 20 years. Also, apply a three-inch layer of mulch to help retain moisture and control weeds. When you plant a corkscrew willow, make a large circle where you can place the mulch around the tree.
Under ideal conditions, you might even get your tree to live 30 years in the landscape.
Curly Willow Light Needs
To keep the graceful leaves’ color bright and cheery, place your Salix matsudana tortuosa in full sun with part shade in the afternoon. This will help keep the trunk strong and help the tree to develop new leaves for flowers. The best part is the tree is a fast-growing tree that will add visual display in your garden.
Salix Matsudana Tortuosa Soil Requierements
The corkscrew willow tree is not fussy about the soil it grows in. You can grow your trees in loam, sand, or clay soil. The important thing is the tree prefers moist soil and must not dry out completely. The pH level is 5.6 to 7.8.
Watering Your New Tree
While this cultivar is more drought tolerant than most other willows, it still has special watering needs. So, if you want to cut down on frequent watering, it helps when your trees are planted in moist soil, like the lowest part of the garden.
Temperature and Humidity For Corkscrew Willow Care
These hardy trees adapt to heat and cold but do not fare well in extreme heat or humidity.
Fertilizing Curly Willow
You need not provide additional feeds when planting your curly willow in a fertilized lawn. The only time you need to fertilize is when new growth is weak. You can use a cup of slow-release fertilizer in spring at the start of the growing season, and it should be enough.
Pruning Corkscrew Willow Trees
You can do pruning in late winter or early spring to remove dead branches. When you prune annually, it helps to provide enough air circulation and allows in enough sunlight to make them less prone to pests. For willow care, trimming is minimal and not too much work compared to other trees that need regular pruning.
Propagating Corkscrew Willow Tree
The best way to propagate corkscrew willow is through hardwood cuttings when dormant. After you see the leaves dropping to the ground and the temperatures drop below 32°F at night, you can take a cutting. Plantly does not recommend seeds as it does not always have the same features as the parent specimen.
Steps to Propagate Using Cuttings
After removing dead branches, remove a cutting from the trunk at the base of a mature tree.
The cutting should not have soft tissue present and needs to be about two feet long.
Use a straight cut below a bud with a second one diagonal around nine inches above the bud.
Doing this allows you to get two cuttings.
Place the cuttings in soil with the straight cut down about four inches deep in the ground. Ensure to mark the location or place them in pots with a potting mix at the same depth.
Optional is dipping the cut ends into a rooting hormone.
Keep the soil moist, and new shoots should appear in spring.
Leave the saplings to develop roots for one growing season before transplanting your potted ones into the landscape.
Potting and Overwintering Corkscrew Willow Tree
Regarding corkscrew willow care, it is not recommended to grow them in containers because of their size. These trees are winter-hardy in USDA Zone 4 and need no winter protection.
Corkscrew Willow Common Pests and Plant Diseases
These plants are susceptible to different pests and diseases and are not disease-resistant. Insect damage is mainly caused by the willow leaf beetles, with the adult beetles a metallic blue color, and they eat the whole leaf.
The larvae are black and leave behind skeletonized foliage but do not do much harm to the tree. Another concern on these plants is aphids leaving behind a honeydew on lower leaves. When you notice leaves turning yellow, it is a sign of these bugs.
You can find powdery mildew, a disease problem, while willow scab is another concern as it enters the twigs, causing cankers and killing the young foliage. You notice it through olive green sported on the underside of the leaves.
When you notice yellow spots on the leaf 🍃 undersides, it can be a fungus known as physalospora miyabeana. To help save your tree, remove infected branches when detected and remove the diseased leaves around the tree.
Frequently Asked Questions
The corkscrew willow roots grow close to the surface and can become aggressive. So when choosing your planting site, choose one away from foundations, structures, or utility lines.
It is the same tree and another common name for the corkscrew willow tree.
The tree comes from China and Korea, and the Tortuosa is a cultivar introduced to the United States from China in 1923.
The corkscrew willow has an upright growth rate with twisting twigs, while the weeping willow has a straight branch that bends downwards.
The tree makes a great addition to any garden as it has an attractive shape with unique foliage.
The tree has weak branches making it prone to breakage when it matures. The stems and trunk also decay fast and do their best in moist spots but can tolerate a bit of drought.
The roots are a challenge when you grow the corkscrew willow as it grows shallow and cause damage to the structure.
The recommended distance is 50 feet away from any structure.
Whether you want to buy, sell, or simply reach out to other plant enthusiasts, Plantly is the right place to be!
