triandra ‘Noir de Villaines’

A french basketry willow that grows 6 to 8 feet in one season after coppicing; one of the most vigorous and stocky of triandra selections. Like other triandras, it breaks dormancy later than many other species, thus extending the flowering season for willows which makes it useful for beekeepers. It is a male selection and has 2 to 3 inches long slender yellow catkins. The young stems are dark reddish-brown to dark chocolate colored. If left to become a tree, the bark peels in interesting patterns with cinnamon coloring. The leaves are finely toothed, dark green and shiny on the upper surface and pale green on the under side. They are also darker and rounder than that of the other selections. Also has good yellow autumn colors. It is a very useful basketry variety and can also be used for small living structures.