General Culture:
Grow in average, medium to wet, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Prefers full sun. Thrives in moist soils, but tolerates drier soils better than many other willows. Prune as needed in late winter to early spring.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
‘Tortuosa’, commonly called dragon’s claw willow, is an upright female clone that typically grows 20-30’ tall and 10-15’ wide. As the common name and cultivar name both suggest, this tree is most noted for its twisted and contorted branches, branchlets and leaves, and it is primarily grown to display this unusual growth. The contorted branching is most easily observed in winter after leaf drop. Small, non-showy, pale yellow female catkins appear in April-May. Lance-shaped leaves (to 4” long) are curled and twisted. Leaves are bright green above and whitish-green below. Fall color may be a respectable golden yellow. Rough, brown, fissured bark appears on mature trees. Native to China and northeast Asia, Salix matsudana is commonly called peking willow or hankow willow. It is a deciduous tree that grows to 40-50’ tall with an oval-rounded crown. Aside from its non-weeping form, it is otherwise very similar to S. babylonica (see C148 herein). It should be further noted that Salix matsudana ‘Tortuosa’ is synonymous with and sometimes sold as Salix babylonica var. pekinensis ‘Tortuosa’. Additional common names for ‘Tortuosa’ include corkscrew willow, rattlesnake willow and contorted willow.
Problems:
Susceptible to numerous disease problems including blights, powdery mildew, leaf spots and cankers. It also is visited by many insect pests including aphids, scale, borers, lacebugs and caterpillars. Branches may be damaged by ice and snow. Litter from leaves, twigs and branches may be a problem.
Uses:
Dragon’s claw willow is perhaps best grown as a specimen for display of its twisted branching. It may be difficult to site in many residential landscapes.
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Garden, 2001-2010
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