Tree of the week Salix alba Britzensis Scarlet Willow

Salix alba Britzensis, the scarlet willow, is one of the best large, upright willows with coloured bark. Despite its common name it is more orange than scarlet, the strong colour glows throughout winter, seeming to intensify as spring approaches.

Sometimes wrongly listed as Chermesina, which is a similar, though different clone of Salix alba, white willow,  Britzensis is a male variety raised from seed in the 1870s by Spath, a German nursery at Britz near Berlin, hence the name. Its showy catkins are large and yellow.

Like any willow grown for the ornamental quality of its bark, it should be hard-pruned each or every alternate spring to encourage brightly coloured new growth. Old trees can be rejuvenated by pollarding (being cut at 6 to 8ft or so above ground level), which will also stimulate the production of new coloured twigs.

Ultimately, when left to grow on it can make a 70ft tree with a conical shape, the high canopy of coloured twigs sway in the wind and look spectacular when seen lit-up by low angled winter sun against dark rain clouds.

Comments and questions are always welcome.

Simon