Scarlet Willow Tree | Salix alba 'Chermesina'
Fiery hues light up the garden
Grown by Mike
Roots' Cotswolds Valley Nursery
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Scarlet Willow Tree
Salix alba 'Chermesina'
- Scarlet Willow is a spectacular native deciduous tree with fresh foliage, catkins and warm red shoots which brighten up the garden in winter
- Waxy yellow, red and orange stems with pollen-rich catkins early in the spring to attract bees and butterflies to your garden
- A fully hardy, fast growing plant which will reach a height of approx 12m but can easily be maintained at lower heights with pruning
- Chermesina loves damp, fertile, acidic soil but will not thrive in chalk. Plant in full sun for the best colour
- Easy to grow - keep at a manageable height to get plenty of fresh, bright stems
- You can leave Scarlet Willow to grow without pruning or you can coppice it each year. Coppicing or simply cutting back old stems encourages new growth which is more vibrant than old wood. The best colour comes if you cut it back every two years
- RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
What to expect
Supplied as
Height on arrival
Eventual height
Eventual spread
Habit
Hardiness
Spacing
Will this grow in my garden?
Can I grow this in a pot?
Yes, Scarlet Willow Tree can be grown in a large pot (60cm+), but it is vigorous and very thirsty. It may outgrow the pot after a few years. Keep well-watered, especially when temperatures exceed 20°C.
How big does it get?
The Scarlet Willow Tree can reach a mature height of 15 to 20 metres, with a spread of 10 to 15 metres, although it can be maintained at a smaller size with regular pruning.
How much sunlight does this need?
Scarlet Willow Tree prefers full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily to thrive.
What kind of soil does this plant prefer?
Scarlet Willow Tree prefers moist to wet soil and can thrive in poorly drained areas. It is very hardy and can tolerate soil temperatures down to -15°C. A 5cm to 10cm layer of mulch helps retain moisture.
How much watering does this plant need?
Scarlet Willow Tree is a thirsty plant that requires frequent watering, needing approximately 20 to 30 litres per week. Ensure the soil remains consistently moist to wet, and water generously when temperatures exceed 20°C.
Will this plant need pruning?
Scarlet Willow Tree benefits from hard pruning in late winter or early spring, cutting back stems to around 10-20cm from the base, to encourage vigorous new growth.
How hardy is this plant?
The scarlet willow is exceptionally hardy with an RHS rating of H7, surviving temperatures colder than -20°C even in exposed locations.
The wider garden
Roots' Cotswolds Valley Nursery
Meet Mike
Tree-growing skills honed right across the globe
Having started out in Australia, studied in Northern Ireland and volunteered at an organic farm in Sweden, it’s fair to say Mike’s done his fair share of travel on his horticultural journey, so far! Having happily laid down roots here at Roots, Mike is the don behind our tree-growing operation, imparting each and every one of his globally-honed skills to benefit your garden. Grown in our purpose-built nursery, in the ideal climatic conditions of the fertile Vale of Evesham, we’re proud to supply only the happiest, healthiest and hardiest trees.
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