Americana willow - helix shape

The Braided Helix Willow, also known as Salix americana in Latin, is a type of Red Willow. Its branches have been carefully selected, directed, and bent to form a column supported by an ascending helix-shaped internal framework. Crowned with delicate green-blue foliage with silver reflections, the scarlet young branches of this willow stand out, particularly under the pale winter sun. As it ages, it retains its lustre but turns reddish-brown. This colourful bush is hardier and less invasive than bamboo and takes up minimal space on the ground. Whether as a standalone plant or a pot on the terrace, it can rival the elegance and flexibility of bamboo. It can be pruned at any time of the year and trained easily.

The Salix purpurea belongs to the Salicaceae family. It is a deciduous plant species in Europe, Central Asia, Japan, and North Africa. This species grows along the banks of rivers and ponds in its natural habitat, particularly on sandy or gravelly soil. It prefers a specific level of humidity but can tolerate poor and constantly flooded soil that suffocates its roots, just like the Salix alba (white willow), and can withstand periods of moderate drought. Its lifespan is approximately 20 years. It has long, flexible branches that can be shaped according to the gardener's or horticulturist's desire, and it is sometimes grown in the form of a "pollard." The Americana cultivar is known for its long, graceful stems and delicate foliage.

The Braided Brown-Red Wood Willow must be pruned heavily and regularly if you do not want it to reach a height of 10m (32.8 ft) and produce many long-coloured stems. The young, very flexible branches are a shiny mahogany red colour and then become brown with age. The buds are also purple. The deciduous foliage falls in early autumn. It comprises thin leaves arranged oppositely but not alternately like most other willows. They are thin and narrow, elliptical in shape, measuring 3 to 5 cm (2 in) long. The lamina is light green-silver on the upper side, while the underside is bluer and covered with prominent veins. The foliage takes on a yellow colour in autumn. The flowering, relatively discreet, takes place in March-April, before the appearance of the leaves. Male specimens bear silky catkins of 3-5 cm (2 in) (1.2 - 2 in) long, silver-green punctuated with purple stamens. Female specimens bear shorter, very discreet catkins. The fruit is a fluffy capsule that releases seeds covered in long decorative bristles.

For an impactful addition to your garden, consider strategically planting a Braided Brown-Red Wood Willow as a standalone specimen or in groups of three. Alternatively, you can place it in a large pot on your terrace or balcony, taking care to monitor watering. This tree is sure to earn you compliments from your visitors! If you have a vegetable patch or small tool shed you want to hide, consider planting several in a row to create a small hedge. The willow's branches intertwine to form stunning geometric figures draped in dense foliage, creating a genuine living sculpture that is constantly evolving.

Properties:

Red willow is a honey plant, also widely used in basketry. Its ability to stabilise unstable soils along riverbanks through its extensive and ramified root system is utilised to restore riverbanks.