Salix magnifica - Willow

Salix magnifica is a deciduous small tree awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society.  Of rare elegance, it stands out with a subtle combination of almost icy cold colours of green jasper and warm colours close to garnet.

The magnificent willow belongs to the salicaceae family. It comes from Sichuan, a mountainous province in China, where it grows spontaneously along rivers to quench its constant thirst.

Behind its bushy silhouette, which gives it an almost wild countryside look, hides a tree that is both mysterious and precious, constantly changing by boldly adopting shades of Chinese porcelain. In spring, its young shoots, buds, and petioles turn purple to ignite the long ovate green leaves tinged with blue, measuring 20 cm (8in) long. Feathery red catkins then appear, blooming into apple green.

We recommend planting the magnificent willow in a sunny location sheltered to protect it from frost, in regular, moist to very humid soil (such as near a water source) and pruning it every 3 years (in February-March). We invite you to create a country hedge, in small or large format, intertwining species that love to have their feet in the water and their heads in the sun to enhance it and make its remarkable foliage shine, like golden willow, red elderberry, pseudowintera colorata.

Willow enthusiasts will never get bored, as there are over 350 different species.