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Salix alba Dart's Snake - White Willow

Salix alba Dart's Snake
White Willow, Common Willow

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A small deciduous, fast-growing plant, reaching 6 m in height and 4 m in width in 20 years. This twisted willow captivates with its glossy, twisted branches, its also twisted green leaves, and its yellow catkins in spring. It is perfectly hardy, thrives in full sun and enjoys moist, even waterlogged soil. Interesting all year round, it is best planted in a prominent position, as a solitary specimen. Its branches are used in floral arrangements and dried bouquets.
Flower size
5 cm
Height at maturity
6 m
Spread at maturity
4 m
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -23°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil, Damp soil
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Best planting time March, October to November
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November
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Flowering time April to May
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Description

Salix alba 'Dart's Snake' is regarded by specialists as the most vigorous and resilient of the twisted willows. It is a small deciduous tree, interesting due to its clearly visible twisted branches in winter, its unusual foliage composed of twisted leaves, as well as its spring flowering of yellow catkins. Left unpruned, this willow develops a broadly conical habit supported by serpentine branches. A willow always brings a romantic atmosphere to the garden. This one is unique, suitable for medium or large gardens. It will look splendid as a solitary specimen, by the edge of a pond or water feature.    

Salix alba 'Dart's Snake' is an interspecific hybrid, originating from the Netherlands, resulting from the cross-breeding between Salix alba var. argentea and Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa'. This cultivar has synonyms Salix x sepulcralis 'Dart's Snake' and Salix alba 'Snake'. It is a highly adaptable and fast-growing small tree. It belongs to the Salicaceae family and the Salix genus, which includes no fewer than 300 species distributed across the cold regions of the northern hemisphere.

Salix alba 'Dart's Snake' is characterised by its contorted and twisted branches. This tree can reach approximately 6 m in height and 4 m in width. Young specimens have a columnar habit, while the crown takes on a broadly conical shape over time. The unusually shaped branches, covered in glossy dark green or yellowish bark, are particularly decorative. The narrow, quite long, dark green leaves are also twisted. They turn yellow in autumn before falling. This variety includes male and female forms, with the former producing large yellow catkins in spring, while the female flowers remain discreet. Flowering occurs in April-May, simultaneously with the appearance of the young leaves. The bark of this tree takes on a brown-grey colour over the years and cracks longitudinally. This willow adapts to different types of soil, preferably fertile, damp to moist, and even tolerates periodically flooded land. It grows best in sunny locations.

This twisted white willow 'Dart's Snake' is most beautiful in its natural form, unpruned, although it tolerates pruning very well. It can be planted as a solitary specimen or at the edge of a water feature in small or large gardens. Among the plants that can accompany it near the water are horsetails, Typha, Lythrum (loosestrifes), Scirpus and the marsh iris (Iris pseudacorus), for example. Its branches are interesting in floral arrangements and dried bouquets.

Tip: Collect fallen leaves in autumn and burn them if the tree shows black spots (anthracnose) or yellow-orange (rust) during its growing season. Once all the leaves have fallen, treat with Bordeaux mixture.

Salix alba Dart's Snake - White Willow in pictures

Salix alba Dart's Snake - White Willow (Plant habit) Plant habit

Plant habit

Height at maturity 6 m
Spread at maturity 4 m
Habit conical, pyramidal
Growth rate fast

Flowering

Flower colour insignificant
Flowering time April to May
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour green

Botanical data

Genus

Salix

Species

alba

Cultivar

Dart's Snake

Family

Salicaceae

Other common names

White Willow, Common Willow

Botanical synonyms

Salix x sepulcralis Dart's Snake, Salix alba Snake

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference 22175

Other Willow - Salix

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Available in 2 sizes

Available to order
From €3.90 Bare root

Planting and care

Salix alba 'Dart's Snake' is best planted in autumn, from September to November, in any damp, even moist, fairly heavy, rich soil, in a sunny position. Water and mulch the young plants. To limit growth, if necessary, prune during winter.

Planting period

Best planting time March, October to November
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Pond edge
Type of use Free-standing
Hardiness Hardy down to -23°C (USDA zone 6a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Planting density 1 per m2
Planting spacing Every 300 cm
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Any
Soil type Clayey (heavy), Clayey-chalky (heavy and alkaline), Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, Damp soil, Deep, fertile

Care

Pruning instructions To limit growth you can prune during winter.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time January to March
Soil moisture Moist soil, Damp soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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