The coppery stems of the coral bark willow add welcome form and texture to the Winter Garden.
This vigorous willow can reach 12m in height, though here it is coppiced annually to maintain a compact habit, and also to ensure that the new stems, which produce this attractive colouring, can be admired at eye level. From April to May it will produce yellow male catkins, though these never produce fruit. ‘Britzensis’ was raised from seed by the German nurseryman Späth in Britz, Berlin, and was introduced to commerce in 1878. The genus Salix presents a taxonomic challenge with authorities recognising between 300 and 500 species globally.