Bluestem Nurseryhardy field grown plants

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S. (Willow) Stems at Bluestem Nursery

Willow Growth Rates - Heights of Coppiced Plants

The numbers listed below are the heights of the majority of the branches during a single season of growth from a 2 yr old stool. In March the plants were all coppiced to the ground, so that what you see below is the amount of growth from in just a few months. So S. alba 'Britzensis' started from ground level in March and grew to 5.5' by July 13, eventually to reach 9' by October 8!

These willows are growing in Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada, Zone 5. It is important to note that they are grown with irrigation (very necessary in our climate), in good soil, no fertilizer and with weed-suppressing cloth. Some of these willows may grow faster in your climate, and some might grow slower. All measurements are approximate.

This information is particularly helpful if you are growing willows for screening purposes.

One of our customers observed that half of her S. koriyanagi 'Rubikins', which was coppiced very early in the season, was much taller than the other half, which she coppiced a few weeks later. Both cuttings were done while the plant was dormant. So we therefore suggest that for early and maximum height, the plants be coppiced as early as it is practical to do so.
Willows July 13 Aug 17 Oct 8
S. x acutifolia 6' 6-7' 6-8'
S. alba 'Britzensis' (3 yrs old) 5.5-6 8-9 9
S. alba 'Chermesina' 5.5-6 6-7 7-9
S. alba 'Sericea' 5.5-6 6-8 6-8
S. alba 'Vitellina' 6-6.5 6-7 6-8
S. 'Americana' 6 6+ 6-8
S. 'Aquatica Gigantea Korso' 3-4 4-5 4-5
S. babylonica var. pekinensis 5-6 5-7 5-8
S. caprea 'Kilmarnock' 6" - prostrate plant
S. caprea 'Select' 4 6-7 7-8
S. cinerea 'Tricolor' 3.5 4 4-5
S. dasyclados 6-6.5 7+ 10
S. elaeagnos 'Angustifolia' 3 3.5-4 n/a
S. exigua 5-5.5 6-7 6-8
S. x 'Flame' (red stem) 5.5 6 6-7
S. x 'Flame' (yellow stem) 6.0 6-7 6-8
S. fragilis 'Belgium Red' 5.5-6.5 6-9 6-10
S. fragilis 'Bullata' n/a
S. gracilistyla 'Melanostachys' n/a
S. x grahamii 'Moorei' prostrate plant
S. integra 'Hakuro-nishiki' 3 4-5 4-5
S. interior 5-6 6-7 6-7
S. irrorata 3-4 5-6 5-6
S. koriyanagi 'Rubikins' 6 6-7 7-8
S. myrsinifolia 4-4.5 5-6 5-6
S. nakamurana var yezoalpina prostrate plant
S. pendulina 'Elegantissima' n/a
S. pentandra n/a 6-7
S. purpurea #187 n/a 6-7 6-7
S. purpurea 'Eugenii' 5.5-6 6-8 6-9
S. purpurea 'Green Dicks' 5' 5-7 5-7
S. purpurea ssp. lambertiana n/a
S. purpurea 'Nana' 4.5-5 5 5-6
S. purpurea 'Pendula'   3 3-4 3-4
S. purpurea 'Streamco' 5.5 6 6-7
S. rigida 'American McKay' 5.5-6 6-8 6-8
S. rubens 'Hutchinsons Yellow' 5-6 5-6 5-7
S. triandra 'Black Maul' 5.5-6 6-8 6-10
S. udensis 'Sekka' 3 4.5 4-5
S. viminalis 6-6.5 7-10 7-11
S. viminalis 'Superba' 6-7 7-10 7-10
Jim checking the progress of Salix 'Flame'
 
Growth from cuttings, in first year