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Salix caprea Curly Locks - Great Sallow

Salix caprea Curly Locks
Goat Willow, Pussy Willow, Great Sallow

5,0/5
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Original tree but be careful, its lifespan is limited; it dies after about 10 years. I’ve had two, but I haven’t bought any more because I’m fed up with replacing them.

Agnès , 09/09/2024

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More information

Variety of Salix caprea with an original silhouette and controlled growth. Suitable for small gardens, its architectural habit blends well with neat contemporary designs and natural-inspired gardens. In spring, before the leaves appear, its weeping and twisted branches are covered with silver-grey catkins bristling with yellow stamens, giving this small tree a lot of charm. Extremely hardy (down to -30°C), it is easy to grow in most types of soil, in sunny to semi-shaded locations, and requires little maintenance.
Flower size
4 cm
Height at maturity
2.50 m
Spread at maturity
1.50 m
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -29°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November
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Flowering time March to April
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Description

Salix caprea 'Curly Locks' is a variety of Goat Willow, which, once grafted onto a stem, is distinguished by its twisted and weeping branches, giving the plant aesthetic appeal. Extremely elegant and moderately sized, reaching a height of about 1.50 to 2 metres, it is perfectly suited for small gardens, as well as container gardening on the terrace. In late winter, over several weeks, it puts on a show with its bare and shiny branches covered in silver and silky catkins, followed by golden anthers laden with pollen, highly appreciated by pollinating insects. Hardy and very easy to grow, it thrives in full sun or partial shade and adapts to any soil, even relatively dry in summer. When the catkins bloom, the branches become particularly decorative and blend perfectly into floral arrangements.

Salix caprea, more commonly known as Goat Willow, and sometimes called Pussy Willow or Great Sallow, is a species of shrubs or small trees in the Salicaceae family. There are approximately 360 species found in temperate and cold regions of the northern hemisphere. Its name comes from Latin and Frankish, derived from a Celtic root meaning "near water". Its leaves are deciduous, alternate, oval or lanceolate. As a dioecious plant, the flowers are arranged in upright catkins, either male or female, carried on separate plants. Once fertilised, the female flowers transform into two-valved capsules that release cottony seeds. They are pollinated by wind or insects. Willows, like birches, are the first trees to colonise fallow land, especially riverbanks. They prefer sunny locations and light, moist soils with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Goat Willow is a pioneer species and ubiquitous, being found in diverse and extensive territories. It is a light-demanding species, less exclusively associated with wet areas than most other willow species.

The 'Curly Locks' variety was discovered in the Netherlands in the 1990s. It is a male willow grafted onto a stem, with the height of the plant determined by the length of the stem. It has a characteristic upright habit, consisting of a vertical trunk topped with a regular and weeping crown. With rapid growth, this small willow reaches a height of 1.50 to 2.50 metres and a spread of 1.20 to 1.80 meters at maturity depending on the height of the graft point. The trunk is covered with smooth grey-green bark, which takes on an ash-grey hue and a cracked and fissured texture with age. The branches, with smooth bark, are reddish-brown with orange highlights and twist and turn outward and downward in all directions. The deciduous foliage consists of oval or lanceolate, 6 to 9 cm long, thick and leathery leaves, matte green on top and whitish and downy on the underside. They turn orange and brown before falling for the winter. The spectacular flowering occurs in March-April, before the leaves appear, on one-year-old branches. 'Curly Locks' only produces male catkins, which are extremely decorative, pleasantly scented and nectar-rich. These ovoid to oblong, 3 to 7 cm long catkins, are initially covered in silvery-white silky hairs and release tiny yellow flowers that are very decorative and covered in pollen.


In addition to its rapid growth, Salix caprea 'Curly Locks' can tolerate severe pruning, allowing it to be contained to a desired size and generate new, fresher, and more colourful branches. It can adapt to all types of soils, whether acidic, neutral, or alkaline. It prefers a sunny exposure but can easily tolerate partial shade. While it appreciates moist soils, it can tolerate a certain level of drought, which is not the case for all willows. Moreover, it is a very hardy plant, withstanding temperatures as low as -30°C. Low-maintenance and easy to grow, it requires almost no care and will reward you with beautiful flowering branches that can be used in bouquets.

In the category of willows, there is a great diversity of varieties, each one as unique as the next. Salix caprea 'Curly Locks', stands out for its aesthetic appeal and architectural form. Its distinctive stature allows this willow to easily stand out in a natural space, a wild-style garden, a well-maintained contemporary space, by a pond, or even in a miniature garden. To highlight its architectural form, it can be accompanied by long-flowering ground cover perennials (Ajuga, Tradescantia), perennials with sculptural and colourful foliage (dwarf Hostas, Houttuynia cordata Chameleon), grasses (Acorus, Carex morrowii), or evergreen shrubs like Nandina domestica Fire Power or dwarf bamboos. Finally, a few bulbs like Snowdrops, with their white bell-shaped flowers heralding spring, can perfect the composition. Its controlled growth and robustness also make it an ideal plant to grow in a large container. It will enhance the charm of a terrace, patio, or balcony, provided it receives periodic watering.

Properties: Like all willows, this variety contains a substance similar to aspirin in its bark. It is nectar-rich and bee-friendly: bees that forage on it produce a golden yellow honey with green iridescence, which takes on amber to beige hues as it ages. Its flavour is sweet, floral and slightly woody. Its foliage was once used as fodder for goats.

Salix caprea Curly Locks - Great Sallow in pictures

Salix caprea Curly Locks - Great Sallow (Flowering) Flowering
Salix caprea Curly Locks - Great Sallow (Foliage) Foliage

Plant habit

Height at maturity 2.50 m
Spread at maturity 1.50 m
Habit weeping
Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour yellow
Flowering time March to April
Flower size 4 cm
Fragrance slightly scented, honey
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators
Good for cut flowers Cut flower blooms

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour green

Botanical data

Genus

Salix

Species

caprea

Cultivar

Curly Locks

Family

Salicaceae

Other common names

Goat Willow, Pussy Willow, Great Sallow

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference20258

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Planting and care

Plant the Curly Locks Willow in full sun or partial shade. It is not very demanding in terms of soil as long as it has a certain depth to allow the bush to find some moisture in case of drought. In hot regions, once the plant is established, a generous watering every 15 days or 3 weeks will be sufficient. It will adapt equally well to light, rocky and sandy soil as it will to heavy, clayey and very moist soil. Limestone is not a problem. Ideally, when planting, use a mixture composed of half potting soil and half garden soil. It is perfectly resistant to cold and heavy frosts. To promote a bushy habit and the formation of branches bearing catkins, prune quite short after flowering, every year. Protect all cutting wounds with a healing sealant.

Planting period

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

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge, Pond edge
Type of use Border, Back of border, Free-standing
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Any
Soil type Clayey (heavy), Clayey-chalky (heavy and alkaline), Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, ordinary soil, fairly deep.

Care

Pruning instructions Prune the branches every year to 5 cm from their base after flowering to promote a bushy habit and stimulate the growth of flowering branches.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time April to May
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
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