Corkscrew Willow, Curly Willow, Pekin Willow, Hankow Willow, Twisted-Twig Willow

Salixmatsudana

Family
Salicaceae (sal-i-KAY-see-ee)
Genus
Salix (SAL-iks)
Species
matsudana (mat-soo-DAY-nuh)
Synonym
Salix babylonica var. pekinensis
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
20-30 ft. (6-9 m)
30-40 ft. (9-12 m)
over 40 ft. (12 m)
Spacing
30-40 ft. (9-12 m)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
Danger
Seed is poisonous if ingested
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color
Inconspicuous/none
Bloom Time
Mid Spring
Other Details
Category
Trees
Water Requirements
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Propagation Methods
From woody stem cuttings
From softwood cuttings
From semi-hardwood cuttings
From hardwood cuttings
Seed Collecting
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Eufaula, Alabama

Frisco City, Alabama

Smiths, Alabama

Anderson, California

Atascadero, California

Sacramento, California

Simi Valley, California

Stockton, California

Travis Afb, California

Vallejo, California

Winsted, Connecticut

Jacksonville, Florida

Keystone Heights, Florida

Ocala, Florida

Emmett, Idaho

Elgin, Illinois

Granite City, Illinois

Jacksonville, Illinois

Palmyra, Illinois

Washington, Illinois

Georgetown, Indiana

Gardner, Kansas

Smiths Grove, Kentucky

Shreveport, Louisiana

Ludington, Michigan

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Carriere, Mississippi

Olive Branch, Mississippi(2 reports)

Hamilton, Montana

Springfield, Nebraska

Trenton, New Jersey

Wrightstown, New Jersey

Beaufort, North Carolina

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Garner, North Carolina

Jacksonville, North Carolina(2 reports)

Stanley, North Carolina

Aurora, Ohio

Dayton, Ohio

Tiffin, Ohio

Hulbert, Oklahoma

Owasso, Oklahoma

Bend, Oregon

Cheshire, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Salem, Oregon

Palmerton, Pennsylvania

Robesonia, Pennsylvania

Campobello, South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina

Ladys Island, South Carolina

Clarksville, Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee

Pocahontas, Tennessee

Toone, Tennessee

Houston, Texas

Huntsville, Texas

Jacksonville, Texas

Palacios, Texas

Clarksville, Virginia

Great Falls, Virginia

South Boston, Virginia

Concrete, Washington

Kennewick, Washington

Olympia, Washington

Menasha, Wisconsin

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

18
positives
5
neutrals
0
negative
Sort By:
Sort By:
M
Minneapolis, MN (Zone 4b) | December 2013 | positive

We planted one from a cutting 25 years ago and it has grown to 30 feet. It is fun to look at and provides many branches to fill out bouquets.

G
Granite City, IL | April 2013 | positive

The red, Corkscrew Willow was planted as a twig in our backyard. Our old neighbors across the street like to "watch it dance in the wind"...Read More

B
Roseburg, OR | September 2010 | positive

My Curly Willow and I enjoyed a Happy Labor Day this year! After cleaning the gutters at my Pop’s house… Leaf blowing my back patio (...Read More

M
Jacksonville, NC (Zone 8a) | July 2010 | positive

We love our curly willow tree! It's easy to propogate- just cut a 1"-2" thick branch, plant it about one to two feet into the prepared g...Read More

M
Maryville, TN | May 2010 | positive

had one when i was a kid. just bought a house this past summer and planted a corkscrew willow. Very please with the rapid growth. the ...Read More

S
S
Astoria, OR | April 2010 | positive

can you plant this in a half wiskey barrel for a few years?

S
Emmett, ID | February 2010 | neutral

Iv herd that a crooked willow is short lived.Does anyone know how long they do live? I have a large one in the corner of my yard we just ...Read More

E
Mount Vernon, OH | August 2009 | positive

I grew up with corkscrew willows in my backyard. My parents live 30 to 45 minutes south east of Cleveland on a small lake and we have alw...Read More

W
Petersburg, VA | July 2008 | positive

Bought a 12-inch corkscrew willow from a vendor at the growers' market in Petersburg, Virginia, (Zone 7) last year. She and another vend...Read More

M
Winsted, CT | April 2008 | positive

I started one off a 5' branch that had fallen off a freinds tree, it rooted and grew another 3' in the first summer , so within a few mon...Read More

W
W
Huntsville, TX | January 2008 | neutral

We planted the tree in early spring, it has grown about 5 feet tall within the year. But this winter it is losing all of it's leaves is ...Read More

F
Portland, OR | November 2007 | positive

Got an old house with this big old beautiful tree! This is a yard tree that gets sun and is protected on its north side by a 5 story buil...Read More

G
North Cascades, WA (Zone 7b) | September 2007 | positive

Mine grows about 2 feet a year! Looks great in boquets. The branches can be wired for spiral, braids and all kinds of neat shapes.

M
Palmerton, PA | May 2007 | positive

I have 5 Curly Willows growing along side my long driveway about 40 ft apart. The trees were given to me when they were about ten ft high...Read More

W
| April 2006 | positive

I have a curly (or corkscrew) willow in my front yard that is at least 40 years old, and may be even older. It is a beautiful, huge tree...Read More

B
Travis AFB, CA | April 2005 | positive

I planted a propagated stem that was approx. 15 inches tall in the spring of last year 04. The tree grew 12 feet the first summer. The ...Read More

D
Levittown, PA (Zone 6b) | August 2004 | neutral

I took a branch from another tree and planted it in the yard and it took just fine. Accidently, it was weed-wacked down to nothing, and ...Read More

T
T
Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) | October 2003 | neutral

We planted a Corkscrew Willow in the front side-yard of our first home. We ended up removing it about 8 years later, as it succumbed to ...Read More

T
T
| October 2003 | neutral

My Corkscrew Willow has branches turning black. The main trunk is about 3 inches in diameter. It was planted last spring and has been w...Read More

M
Gardner, KS | August 2003 | positive

I planted a 5-6' specimen in my yard in 1999. It is in a SE location, in a new subdivision that has no trees. It has grown quickly, alre...Read More

I
Frisco City, AL | June 2003 | positive

I just planted a corkscrew willow; it's about 10' tall and I planted it next to my backyard pond. I planted it right before the rain from...Read More

E
E
(Zone 7b) | June 2003 | positive

I live in zone 7. About 1 1/2 years ago, we planted a rooted 20" limb in a small area that is mulched heavily. When it rains a lot this...Read More

F
Eufaula, AL (Zone 8a) | June 2003 | positive

I have a small corkscrew growing in full sun in the back garden. It is from a wood cutting that had rooted in water and was part of a fre...Read More

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