Violet Willow Sapling Trees

Salix Daphnoides Hedging

Delivered by Mail Order Direct from our Nursery with a Year Guarantee

The Violet Willow, Salix daphnoides, is a medium sized, fast growing deciduous waterside tree that has lustrous violet young shoots. These are dusted in a fine, fluffy powder that disperses like smoke if the tree is shaken by wind in dry weather. Salix daphnoides is a European native, widely found in a belt between Greece and the Baltic Sea. It can't really be said to have naturalised in Britain, as surveys rarely find it outside of gardens and managed woodland. Despite that, it is a perfect source of early spring nectar and pollen for bees and some of the moth caterpillars that feed on our native willows will be happy munching on Salix daphnoides as well. It also has one of the most beautiful displays of spring bark of any willow. It can be grown as a screening tree up to about 20 metres high.

View our selection of willow hedging or see our full range of hedging plants.

Violet Willow plants are only delivered bareroot, during winter (Nov-March).
All of our young trees and shrubs are measured by their height in centimetres above the ground (the roots aren't measured).

Notes on planting Violet Willow:
These trees love moist acidic, peaty or poorly fertile soil and are often found on mountainsides in the wild, where they love the high rainfall - we don't recommend this tree for a dry garden unless you are happy to water it frequently. It is on of the few willows that will really thrive on the coast. Not suitable for chalky ground and needs a sunny position, though it is a hardy plant.

The Violet Willow is an excellent choice for coppicing. Cut back very hard every 2 years for best effect.

Prepare your site before planting:
It is good to dig over the area where you intend to plant several months in advance. Destroy the weeds first: nettles, brambles and ground elder are tough. Then dig the soil over; remove rocks, roots and other rubbish. Mix in well rotted compost or manure down to the depth of about 2 spades.
If you have a heavy clay soil, it might be too difficult to dig over for most of the year. Heavy clay is fertile soil, so you don't really need to improve it; killing the weeds is still necessary.

Remember to water establishing plants during dry weather for at least a year after planting.

Planting accessories:
Prepare your site for planting by killing the weeds and grass.
If you are planting in an area with rabbit and/or deer, you will need to use a protective plastic spiral for each plant, supported by a bamboo cane.
If your soil quality is poor, we recommend using mycorrhizal "friendly fungi" on the roots of new trees and shrubs.
You can also improve your soil with bonemeal organic fertiliser.

After Care

After you plant your Violet Willow trees, the most important thing to do is water them in dry weather. You will also need to weed around the plants. Both of these will be necessary for at least a year after planting.
Water thoroughly but not too often: let the soil get close to drying out before watering your plants again.

Special notes on caring for Violet Willow:
Violet Willow is a very tough plant that shouldn't need special attention once it has established. If pruning is necessary, it is best do it in winter. Always hire a tree surgeon to remove large branches.

Hygiene & Diseases:
Dead, damaged or diseased wood can be pruned off as soon as it appears.
Disinfect your pruning tools between every cut if there is any sign of disease.
Burn or dispose of any diseased material, do not compost it.

After you plant your Violet Willow trees, the most important thing to do is water them in dry weather. You will also need to weed around the plants. Both of these will be necessary for at least a year after planting.
Water thoroughly but not too often: let the soil get close to drying out before watering your plants again.

Special notes on caring for Violet Willow:
Violet Willow is a very tough plant that shouldn't need special attention once it has established. If pruning is necessary, it is best do it in winter. Always hire a tree surgeon to remove large branches.

Hygiene & Diseases:
Dead, damaged or diseased wood can be pruned off as soon as it appears.
Disinfect your pruning tools between every cut if there is any sign of disease.
Burn or dispose of any diseased material, do not compost it.