fragilis f. Vitellina ‘Aurea’

The Gold-leaf Willow is one of the most striking willows in the summer garden due to its bright golden yellow leaves. Newsholme, in his book “Willows, The Genus Salix” calls it “one of the most beautiful of all ornamental trees”. We have grown this for a number of years and found it to be quite different from similar cultivars in that it is relatively slow to grow. In growth habit it is more like Salix x fragilis f. Vitellina ‘Flame’. In 2017 it produced catkins for the first time (it took 9 years) and the catkins were female. Another piece of information that should be told is that it is one of the more difficult willows to root from cuttings. This is the reason why we have never offered it before. We have succeeded rooting them in pots using equal parts potting mix and perlite, rather than sticking them directly in the soil. Then we wait until they get a good root system before planting them out. Avoid planting them in hot weather. It is my hope that everyone who buys these will get at least one to root! No guarantees, but worth the risk! ‘Aurea’ must be grown in full sun to produce the golden leaves!