Remember the forsythia and willows I cut and put in water for forcing in February? I forgot to take a photo when the forsythia bloomed, and there's a good reason for that. Yes, it bloomed, but it was underwhelming, so you didn't miss anything. But the willows were outstanding, as usual.
Today, I decided I would clean out the water they were all in, one final time, and ended up doing something else with them. I'd noticed the new leaf growth on some of the cuttings, and when I removed them from the vase, all of the willows had rooted! So I potted them up until it's a better time to put them in the ground outside.
The pussy willows that I took the cuttings from were grown from cuttings themselves a few years ago, so I wasn't really surprised they'd rooted. I was especially happy that the Japanese Fantail Willow (Salix sachalinensis 'Sekka') had rooted, because I really wouldn't mind having a couple more of them. The one we have is such a nicely shaped shrub/small tree and I'm wanting some things with a little height and good winter interest.
"Bejeweled"
17 comments:
How fun to find roots on the willows. I wonder if my cuttings will root?? I will watch them to see if this happens. Mine haven't been in water as long as yours. I have the regular willows, not the curly ones you have.
It's always fun to see something unexpected! I put in a row of Hiroki Nishiki Willows (Japanese Dappled Willows) that was entirely made from cuttings. Sometimes you can just stick willows in the ground and they will root easily! Your willows look great!
Lisa ~ They should root. I had regular willows in there, too, which you can see better in the final picture. I've rooted regular ones before, in fact, the ones I cut this year came from ones I'd rooted a few years ago.
Dave ~ I just planted a Nishiki willow last year, so I can root some next spring and have more! I don't really want to cut on it yet this spring. Aren't they gorgeous?
Nancy ~ I'd not even considered that weeping willows could be started that way, but of course they could! Maybe I'll try that!
I had a pussy willow years ago...I don't remember why it died...your photos make me want to get another one...they were so nice to have forced in the house.
They're great Kylee! The red tipped new leaves and the dappled foliage make it worth planting. Since it's a smaller willow you don't have to worry much about its size.
Way to go, Kylee! You definitely have a nice, green thumb. I need to root some Nishiki willows. I really like the plant. Very pretty. ;-)
If only everything were that easy. Next time your forced Forsythia blooms sparsely, take a close up photo of one bloom. No one will know your secret.
looks like a fun project. Keep us posted on how it goes. I have been looking at a neighbor's curly willow and thinking I should ask for a cutting, myself!
Your willows are cool! I wish I had some - not sure they'd grow here in the heat, but I do enjoy them when I see them up north. And I love the look of forced branches like willow or forsythia or quince in a vase. There's just something about the starkness of the stick with the soft bloom...I liked seeing those little roots!
Willows, that's one shrub I don't have...maybe I had better put one in this Spring?
Wow that is interesting to see. It's great to read all these things on pussy willows. I knew nothing about forcing them and what not until I've read these posts this year.
I adore willows. Everyone was wild about them at the Philadelphia Flower Show--carting them around in huge bunches. I really just had to laugh because, like you, I have my own willow bush!
Robin at Bumblebee
Yay! How fun, Kylee. :)
That's great! I didn't know pussy willow would root from cuttings. Now I want to cut a branch from my mom's plant and make a willow of my own. :-)
That is just SO COOL! I love the little miracles of nature. The weirdest one was a friend that had a bouquet of store-bought cut chrysantemums take root in their water. No Joke!!!!
I love that you're potting them up and using them in the garden later.
Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage
I love willows too--we have the standard wild/weeping types here, plus 'Nishiki' and the twisted willow, and an arctic species (I'll have to crosscheck the name). They do root so easily; and they grow quite quickly too, at least some of them do. I'd like to do a hedge of them as a border in the yard, one of these days, maybe one of the arctic species that don't grow too large.
I enjoyed your reflections.
Shirley
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