What’s new in the garden? Not much, really. My garden sits in the Lille region, and you have to admit that in the middle of February it’s a bit dull and dreary. A few Galanthus are showing their white and green bell-shaped flowers, the hellebores begin their lovely season, the wood dogwoods (the show goes on...) display their shimmering colours and... oh yes! What was I thinking? It’s the start of the ament season!
Nothing to do with our whiskered companions, but rather with the blooming of willows. But not just any willows! The first to bloom, and thus to produce these famous aments, are Asian willows. Our native willows (Salix alba, Salix viminalis, Salix fragilis, Salix caprea, Salix aurita…), for their part, are patiently waiting for their moment to flower. Which won’t be long, by the way.
The willow 'Mount Aso'
The Salix chaenomeloides 'Mount Aso' is extraordinary in more ways than one! In season, it forms a handsome shrub about 2.5 m in all directions, in our climate. The green foliage is deciduous and hints at bright red new shoots in winter. But it’s at flowering time that it proves truly spectacular. From February onwards and for several weeks, large fluffy pink-red aments will emerge. It’s stunning both for the colour and for the shrub’s overall silhouette. And all this in a season when little else happens in the garden.
Willow 'Wolf's Claw'
The Salix gracilistyla var. melanostachys (Bless you!) is a willow that looks unimpressive if you don’t pay attention. But if you look closer... I was given a cutting last year; the shrub is therefore still very young. But despite its young age, this willow 'Wolf's Claw' already rewards me with two aments... completely black. All this is borne on very red shoots. I leave you to imagine the beauty of the shrub when it reaches its mature size. I can’t wait to see that in two or three years.
Salix koriyanagi
It’s a Korean willow (also found in China and Japan), little known and hard to obtain outside of a few specialist plant-collectors. I had the good idea to plant a very young specimen about two years ago. And I’m delighted! The young shoots look slender and upright like 'i's. They are used in basketry in Asia. And from February onwards, the shrub is covered with a multitude of mini female aments. A striking visual effect! The deciduous foliage resembles a bit the basket willow (Salix viminalis), but the leaves are smaller and orange at bud burst.
Cultivation conditions for these 3 willows
All three are very hardy: -15°C without any problem in winter. They require sun and soil that stays cool and moist all season. However, they prove to be quite drought-tolerant once well established. Ordinary soil suits them, regardless of pH. The soil can even be heavy and clayey: in fact, they absolutely love it! An occasional pruning after winter, if you feel the need. They are trouble-free shrubs with fast growth. In short, shrubs that deserve to be planted more widely!
Also discover beautiful aments in Virginie's garden.
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