@amancalledgeorge I have to agree @Buch - I think they're desperately ugly, but most people keep them 'contained' in terms of size, so they rarely seem to cause any problems. However, there was a recent thread where someone had a couple of them in their garden and they were huge. It would therefore seem to be down to how you manage them
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@amancalledgeorge I have to agree @Buch - I think they're desperately ugly, but most people keep them 'contained' in terms of size, so they rarely seem to cause any problems. However, there was a recent thread where someone had a couple of them in their garden and they were huge. It would therefore seem to be down to how you manage them
Do you think they are ugly because of the colour, or is it the form of the shrub?? I was hoping to fill a large space that at the moment is full of ragwort and briars. Wondering what you think of other willows like Salix alba 'Chermesina' for example. Thanks
Not sure if it makes a difference, but should mention that it's in a shrub form, it's not one of the lollipop types. I was hoping to grow a large bush that can take severe cutting back maybe once a year. There are some wild Willows around here and they form large bushes that help fill in a bad area
It's the colour, but I don't like any variegated plant that has pink in with the green/white, or green/yellow Loads of bog standard willow round here, but it isn't something I'd grow unless I had a lot of room, which I don't in this garden. Chermesina is mainly grown for it's stem colour. Much nicer, but it isn't my garden, so you have to choose
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Personally I would rather go for the native Salix fragilis … the Crack Willow, and coppice that every couple of years … you’ll get lovely golden withies … and you could mix that with coppiced Cornus … with fiery red new growth.
It’s a personal thing but pink leaves really don’t do it for me …. sorry.
😊
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
@Buch if you like the Salix, then get one, it's your garden! I had one, I think they're nice, but it went and died on me earlier in the year and its roots are under my patio so I can't pull it up. So it does now look as hideous as people on here suggest - a load of gnarly old bald branches!
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I have to agree @Buch - I think they're desperately ugly, but most people keep them 'contained' in terms of size, so they rarely seem to cause any problems. However, there was a recent thread where someone had a couple of them in their garden and they were huge.
It would therefore seem to be down to how you manage them
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Loads of bog standard willow round here, but it isn't something I'd grow unless I had a lot of room, which I don't in this garden.
Chermesina is mainly grown for it's stem colour. Much nicer, but it isn't my garden, so you have to choose
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.