WorryFree® Winter Torch Willow

Introducing the WorryFree® Winter Torch Willow (Salix alba 'Winter Torch')! A deciduous shrub renowned for its vibrant orange-red stems that illuminate the winter landscape. This fast-growing, versatile plant showcases lush green foliage during the summer months, transitioning to a brilliant display of color in the colder seasons.

Reaching a height and spread of 5 to 7 feet, the Winter Torch Willow boasts an upright, compact form. Its bright green, lanceolate leaves provide a fresh, verdant backdrop in spring and summer, while the stems' fiery hues offer striking visual interest in winter!

Key Features:

• Vibrant orange-red stems in winter!
• Fast-growing and versatile
• Upright, compact habit
• Ideal for naturalizing
• Great moisture-loving shrub
• Deer resistant

Landscaping Uses

The Winter Torch Willow is a versatile shrub, and its adaptability and resilience make it an excellent choice for borders, foundations, or groupings, injecting color and life into the landscape during the colder months. Reaching 5 to 7 feet in height and width, suitable for various landscaping applications:

• Borders and backdrops to garden beds
• Spring specimens when in bloom
• Groupings and hedgerows for privacy and wildlife protection
• Naturalizing, Rain Gardens, and stabilizing banks of streams, hillsides, and erosion control near water features
• Cutting gardens for pretty stems in bouquets, crafting, and décor
• Fast-growing hedges and screens
• Fantastic paired with evergreens and other colorful winter-interest shrubs like Red Osier and Yellow Twig Dogwood bushes

Care and Maintenance

Discovered by Nina Bassuk at Cornell University, this cultivar thrives in moist, even wet areas with full sun exposure. As a deciduous shrub, the Winter Torch Willow is known for its resilience and adaptability:

• Sun Needs: Full sun for optimal growth
• Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained soil; tolerates wet areas
• Moisture Needs: High; prefers consistently moist conditions
• Mulch: Apply a 3-4 inch deep layer of mulch to retain soil moisture
• Pruning Info: Prune in early spring; cutting stems nearly to ground level can yield bright regrowth that stands out best when cold weather sets in
• Renewal Pruning: Every 3-5 years, remove older stems to promote fresh growth
• Special Needs/Perks:
• Deer resistant
• Low maintenance
• Excellent for wet areas