Willow-Fantail Winter Branches

Available after November 27. The Fantail Willow at this time of the year is dormant and the stems are brown and defoliated. Once we get into late January we will cut these stems and get them into our forcing room to get the multitude of small white catkins to emerge on the contorted stems. With the increased usage of these stems as design-minded orchid stakes we sometimes have a hard time keeping up with demand. Also, as more and more consumers are introduced to these stems demand has increased along with their exposure. Salix sachalinensis is an interesting landscape plant; large and dense it almost has a tropical look to it in the summer. Only about 20% of the plant will grow the desired fasciated stems so harvest is much more labor intensive than other decorative branches. Each stem must be located from within the mass of stems and individually removed.