babylonica ‘Tortuosa’

The Dragon’s Claw Willow is the original Chinese Curly Willow and the first curly willow seen in the West. It was introduced to France, likely to Vilmorin’s nursery near Paris, by the Belgian engineer and plant collector Joseph Hers during the early 1920s. It is said to be a small tree with an upright, but weeping habit and according to some European authorities, it is best kept as a large shrub, but there are much larger specimens in North America that grow to 30ft; perhaps the wood ripens better with the prolonged hotter temperatures experienced here. It is a female selection and is one of the commonest forms of curly willow in gardens and the trade. The stems of our clone are a darker color than most curly willows; Michael saw this in China in 2018 and the stems were bright green. Nearly all curly willow cultivars and hybrids have originated from this original form.

description credit to Michael Dodge