Salix purpurea ‘Richartii’
purpurea = purple
Richart’s Purple Willow
This male selection makes a medium-sized, somewhat rounded shrub with slender, shiny dark red twigs in winter. The 1in catkins appear in pairs on opposite sides of the stems; start gray, red anthers burst out of the fluffy gray covering before turning yellow with pollen. Bees love this willow as it produces so many flowers with so much pollen! The lovely mature bluish leaves are preceded by translucent juvenile leaves with hints of orange and pink. It is a handsome shrub for the garden and can be used in small gardens if pruned right after flowering in early spring. Best if coppiced every two to three years if you want lots of slender rods for basket-making. Hardy Zone 3.
Dried rod color: dark brown
USES: As an ornamental shrub or as a screen where it’s density will hide unwanted views or, if planted densely, keep out deer.
The Wonderful World of Willows
Vermont Willow Nursery
$13.50 per bundle of 5
Male catkins of Richart's Willow in various stages of development. Late April-early May.
Here's one of our original plants in full flower in early May and in leaf in late July.
When coppiced they produce long straight stems
with long narrow leaves.
If left unpruned they produce lots of twiggy, colorful growth and smaller leaves.
above and above left: bright red catkin buds show off in late October on bright red, slender stems--color for winter displays.
A long wispy branch covered with young catkins.
This is a very elegant and graceful selection.
Mid April.
A long wispy branch covered with young catkins.
This is a very elegant and graceful selection.
Mid April.
left: catkins shedding
their winter bud-scales
and the fur-covering protects
the reproductive parts
from low temperatures.
early April.
'Richarti' produces catkins in gay abandon, more than any other purpurea. Mid April.
Bees by the hundred show up when 'Richartii' blossoms, and there's plenty of pollen for a whole hive or two!.
Mid April.