About
Salix koriyanagi, the Japanese basket osier, is an osier-like, erect shrub to 3 m with slender, whippy, purple-reddish stems and slender leaves to 10 cm long with an orange-red flush in spring, turning dark fresh-green above and blue-green beneath. Slender catkins with orange anthers appear in spring. A rewarding and ornamental willow for a moist, sunny garden.
About the genus
Salix, the willows, are deciduous shrubs and trees of very diverse habit, with simple leaves and tiny flowers in catkins, male and female usually on separate plants. Some are valued for brightly coloured winter shoots, others for ornamental catkins, foliage or stature.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Poorly-drained
AspectSouth-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Native toJapan, Korea
Care notes
CultivationGrow in full sun in moist or wet soil
PruningPruning group 1
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, leaf beetles, sawflies, willow scale
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to willow anthracnose, scab, canker, honey fungus and rust