With its twisted two-formations, the corkscrew willow is particularly popular as a decorative garden and park plant or as a material dispenser in floristry. It is also quite easy to care for and is also an interesting candidate for bonsai fans.
What characterizes the corkscrew willow (Salix matsudana)?
The corkscrew willow (Salix matsudana) is a decorative plant characterized by its rapid growth and characteristic twisted branches. It prefers sunny to partially shaded locations and moist, well-drained soil. As an outdoor plant or pot plant, it is suitable for bonsai cultivation and serves as an attractive material in floristry.
Origin
The corkscrew willow, botanically Salix matsudana, is a native species within the willow genus. It was bred from the weeping willow (Salix babylonica), which itself comes from East Asia.
Growth
The corkscrew willow grows about one meter per year if its location meets its preferred conditions. Overall, at 8 to 12 meters, it reaches a slightly lower height than the weeping willow and develops a shrubby to tree-like shape. The corkscrew willow only lives around 10 to 15 years.
Responsible for this are, among other things, the eponymous twisted corkscrew-like and strongly twisting branches on the long, towering branches. They form an extraordinary, characteristic sight and an at times almost grotesque overall silhouette.
The growth characteristics of the corkscrew willow at a glance:
- Fast growth, up to 1 m high per year
- Total height about 8 to 12 m
- Age between 10 and 15 years
- Characteristic twisted, winding branches
Which location is suitable?
The Salix matsudana likes it sunny to partially shaded. In a place that is too dark, their growth will be significantly reduced and growth damage may also occur. When it comes to soil conditions, the corkscrew willow is fairly undemanding. It owes this to its extensive, effective root system. It thrives in almost all soils, both acidic and alkaline, both sandy and loamy. Just make sure there is enough moisture. What is also good for the corkscrew willow is a good loosening of the soil, for example with horn shavings, which you mix into the excavated soil when planting. If the soil is particularly poor, you can also add some compost.
A corkscrew willow grown in a container should also be kept in a sunny place. The substrate can consist of simple potting soil, possibly mixed with some sand and volcanic rock.
As a shrub/tree in outdoor cultivation:
- sunny to partially shaded lighting conditions
- Soil condition relatively unimportant, just moist enough, preferably well loosened
As a container plant:
- sunny location
- commercially available substrate, loosened with sand or volcanic rock
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Usage
Due to its rapid growth, the Salix matsudana is a popular candidate for tree plantings that need to grow quickly - for example in newly created gardens or parks, especially where a natural border is quickly created or a gap is closed shall be.
In addition, with its typical winding, twisted branch formation, it has a high decorative value and is a popular material for florists. Their branches can be used to create attractive structural accents in bouquets and flower arrangements. Individual corkscrew willow branches also look very pretty “pure” in the vase.
The corkscrew willow is also interesting for fans of bonsai culture: its rapid growth and its flexible, structured branches offer a good basis for interesting formation training.
The benefits of the corkscrew willow
- For quick tree planting and gap filling
- As a structural material in floristry or decoration for the home
- For bonsai cultivation in pots
Watering corkscrew willow
If the corkscrew willow is cultivated as a standard tree outdoors, it generally does not need to be supplied with additional water when fully grown. At most, you can water them with rainwater every now and then during long, hot dry periods in summer.
Of course, you first have to water a newly planted young tree well and take care of it a little more closely in dry phases.
Of course, regular water supply is even more necessary for a corkscrew willow in pot culture. In this form it has a higher water requirement and of course cannot store as much water in the potting substrate. You should water a corkscrew willow in a pot regularly and relatively extensively so that the root ball dries out but does not dry out completely before the next watering. The lime content of the water is relatively insignificant for the corkscrew willow.
Fertilize corkscrew willow properly
As an outdoor shrub/tree, the corkscrew willow actually doesn't need to be fertilized. You can of course do something good for it with a little compost and horn shavings in the planting hole soil when planting.
The situation is different with pot culture. Here the space for the very extensive roots is very limited, so you should help the corkscrew willow with some additional nutrients. It's best to give it some green plant liquid fertilizer regularly every two weeks (€6.00 on Amazon). However, you should stay away from cheap, aggressive mineral blue grain fertilizer.
Cut corkscrew willow correctly
Cutting is an important issue with the corkscrew willow - this is probably where it requires the most care from you. Due to its rapid growth, it has to be cut back and thinned out every year to stay he althy and fresh. In addition, it is much easier to keep in aesthetic shape. In smaller gardens, regular pruning may be necessary simply for reasons of space.
It is best to prune in early spring, when the tree is still before its first massive growth spurt and its branches are still bare and clear. It's best to start by removing old, dead branches so that all the energy can be put into sprouting he althy branches over the spring and summer. You can then make the topiary, which, depending on your needs, serves more to limit space or for visual aesthetics.
As you get older, it is advisable to radically cut back the corkscrew willow. This promotes more vital new growth and a refreshment of the branch condition.
The cutting rules at a glance:
- Cut and thin out corkscrew willow every year
- Time: early spring
- First thin out dead branches, then aesthetic topiary
- Cut back old specimens radically
A tip: It's a good idea that the corkscrew willow should be pruned in early spring: because the beautifully twisted branches are ideal as fresh, decorative material for Easter bouquets! Hanging decorations such as blow-out eggs can also be easily hung on the branches.read more
Planting
The best time to plant a corkscrew willow is autumn before the first frost - this gives it the opportunity to develop its roots well for now. When planting, you should first dig a generous hole. The root ball of Salix matsudana spreads a lot and needs a lot of space to develop. It is best to add some horn shavings to the excavation to loosen it up and provide long-term fertilization. You can also add compost, but this is only necessary if the soil is particularly poor.
Tamp the tree disk around the young tree you have inserted firmly and water it well. It's best to give it a little support against the wind with a support pole and tie it to it with jute.
To remember:
- Planting time: Early fall
- Prepare a large excavation, loosened with horn shavings or lava grit, possibly compost swell
- Tread firmly and secure with a support post
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How do I transplant correctly?
You should avoid transplanting the corkscrew willow if possible. On the one hand, this is initially weakening for every plant. On the other hand, the Salix matsudana is so undemanding in terms of location that, at least in this respect, a change of location will generally not be of much use if the tree shows defects. Another argument against this is that the corkscrew willow does not grow particularly old - with such a short life, it is even more important to avoid replanting it.
If it takes up too much space, you can better cut it back radically. Even in her old age, she tolerates this without any problems.
If you insist on transplanting, you should, above all, dig up the corkscrew willow very generously, as its root system is essential for it and expands very far. When excavating again, be just as generous and loosen the substrate well.read more
Propagate corkscrew willow
Propagate a corkscrew willow is not difficult. The best way to do this is to simply use some of the trimmings that are produced during the annual pruning. Cut off a 15 to 20 cm long shoot with a few buds from the cut branches and completely defoliate it.
Keep this woody cutting over the winter and place it in a pot with a substrate of soil and peat the following spring. Place this in a bright, sunny window seat and keep it evenly moist. You can also use the tried-and-tested foil method by covering the cuttings with foil, thereby providing them with an evenly warm, moist microclimate.read more
offshoot
Offshoots are the most common method for propagating the corkscrew willow. Theoretically, sowing is of course also possible, but given the simplicity and high success rate of wood cuttings, you should avoid it.read more
In the bucket
Because of its pretty branches and easy-to-direct growth, the corkscrew willow is also ideal for container cultivation. There are a few things to consider here. First of all, make sure that the substrate is sufficiently spacious, loose and always moist. Create a loose drainage system made of lava grit or expanded clay and, ideally, add organic long-term fertilizer such as horn shavings and some compost to the soil. During the growth phase you should also give some green plant liquid fertilizer every 14 days.
The location should be bright and sunny. In winter, the corkscrew willow, which is hardy in itself, does not need to be brought into the house, even in a pot. However, protect the root ball a little from severe frost by wrapping the pot with burlap and/or covering the soil with pine branches.read more
Bonsai
Thanks to its fast, vigorous growth and flexibility, the corkscrew willow can also be easily trained for bonsai. The best way to do this is to start by growing a wooden cutting as described above. When it has reached the desired height, consistently shorten the upper end shoots and cause the mini tree to sprout laterally and develop a wide, shapely crown. You can then sharpen the contours of these as you wish and enjoy the dense, meandering branches.read more
Diseases
Diseases are unfortunately an issue for corkscrew willows. Although they are undemanding to the site conditions, they are quite susceptible to fungal diseases, especially
- Marssonina mushrooms and
- willow scab
Marssonina mushrooms
You can recognize an infestation by discoloring and drying leaves. In advanced stages, the tips of the branches can also turn dark and grow. In this case, remove all diseased plant parts quickly and as thoroughly as possible and dispose of them in the trash. In stubborn cases, you can also use a chemical fungicide.
willow scab
The corkscrew willow is also quite susceptible to willow scab. The symptoms of this fungal disease are very similar to those of the Marssonina fungus and the countermeasures are basically the same.
To prevent fungal infestation, you can provide your corkscrew willow with more immune-boosting potash and phosphorus.read more
Pests
The corkscrew willow is also plagued by pests. These mainly include
- the willow leaf beetle and
- the willow borer.
Willow Leaf Beetle
The shiny, small, round willow leaf beetle can eat the corkscrew willow almost completely bare with its immense appetite. You should definitely use an insecticide, especially if the tree is still young.
Willow Borer
Only the larvae of the willow borer, a type of moth, are dangerous. After hatching, they eat their way through the entire bark and at some point give off a vinegar-like smell. However, the damage is usually massive. Control is difficult - the adult moths can be collected, but the larvae that feed under the bark cannot. You should simply cut out affected shoots completely. In the worst case scenario, the corkscrew willow can no longer be saved and has to be felled.read more
Is corkscrew willow poisonous?
Willows are generally a harmless plant genus from a toxicological point of view. So it is the same with the corkscrew willow. It poses no danger to humans or animals. If you have small children and/or animals living in your household, you don't need to worry about either a planned outdoor plant or a container culture.read more
Tip
You don't need to leave all the waste from your annual pruning unused: the branches of the corkscrew willow contain valuable auxins, which act as a natural growth hormone and also encourage other plants to root. Simply pour boiling water over the chopped shoots and let the infusion steep for 24 hours. You can then use the strained brew for any rooting projects.
Varieties
The most famous corkscrew willow species is the Salix matsudana Tortuosa. In addition, other cultural forms with special characteristics are also cultivated, such as the
- Salix Caradoc
- Salix matsudana Pendula or the
- Salix erythroflexuosa
Salix Caradoc
This variety is called gold corkscrew willow in German and has its special appeal due to its golden autumn color. This means that it has a different decorative value apart from the typical winding branch structure. The branches are also particularly twisted in a zigzag shape. The golden corkscrew willow has a shrubby habit and grows to around 6 m high. Like the Salix matsudana Tortuosa, it needs a sunny location and moist soil.
Salix matsudana Pendula
In contrast to Salix matsudana Tortuosa, this type of corkscrew willow has hanging branches and is therefore somewhat reminiscent of a weeping willow. Otherwise it is similar to the Tortuosa in terms of habit and location requirements.
Salix erythroflexuosa
Their branches are particularly intensely twisted and have an attractive reddish color. The long, lanceolate leaves are usually wavy. The shrub forms a silhouette that widens towards the top and grows to around 3 to 5 meters high.
