Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Unusual growth on flamingo willow

svennartvokohH4zU-4svennartvokohH4zU-4 Posts: 2
in Plants
Hi all! I have noticed some weird new growth on my flamingo willow tree (I know poor thing doesn't look its best right now, been abroad for a while and couldn't take care of it). They look like regular willow leaves, but kind of different from what's typical for this plant, as far as I know. I've never seen this tree grow this long or this green leaves!

I'm not very concerned about it since they look healthy and new growth is always great, just curious why this happens😆

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Hello @svennartvokohH4zU-4 and welcome to the forum  :)

    Your Salix Flamingo has been top-grafted onto a salix rootstock and trunk ... so the growth from below the graft is from the rootstock and should be removed.  Grasp firmly and pull downwards quickly is the way I was taught to do it ... this should remove the 'bud' at the base of the shoot.  If new growth reappears on the trunk or at the roots rub it out quickly with your thumb before it grows.  

    And as I'm sure you know, salix need lots and lots of water ... give yours a thorough soaking ... several thorough soakings in fact ... to perk it up again. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    be concerned, those twigs are from below the graft, they will be much stronger and will take over completely. Take them off asap


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Flamingo is a grafted plant.
    The trunk is from a bog-standard willow. The top bit with the multi-coloured foliage is grafted onto the bog-standard willow trunk.
    What's happened with yours is that the bog-standard willow has sprouted and sending out shoots.
    You need to cut them off with secateurs close to the trunk.
    If you leave them, they'll take over and you'll end up with an ordinary willow tree.
    If more sprouts appear snap them off while they're still small.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • svennartvokohH4zU-4svennartvokohH4zU-4 Posts: 2
    Oh,  good thing I asked! 😅 Thank you everybody,  I will remove those branches! 
  • casa.fina1178509casa.fina1178509 Posts: 5
    hello I have a flamingo tree which is only young a storm blew down my first fabulous one but I’ve noticed this one has like a walnut growing on the stem anyone have any tips on what it might be and what to do with it thanks 
    josie 
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    I think we need to see a photo


    In the sticks near Peterborough
Sign In or Register to comment.