Varieties Grown

At Barfad Willow I currently have twelve varieties available for sale. I am also nuturing three beautiful new varieties, Carl Jensen, Polish Blue and Nicolonnsi which should become available in the next few years - if the deer don't take too much of a liking for them that is...

For Brown Willow:

Dark Dicks​ (Salix purpurea): This is one of my most popular basket making varieties. It is a very fine willow with dark brown-purple-red rods.​

Green Dicks (Salix purpurea): A fine rod with a pale green stem which changes to a whitish green in the winter. Green Dick is another popular basket making willow. ​

Dicky Meadows (Salix purpurea): A waxy, slender, willow, a little more stout that the Dicks'. The rods are pale green near the butts and gradually change to a yellow-brown and then reddish-brown towards the tips.

Packing Twine (Salix purpurea): A fine slender yellowy-green willow very popular for basket making.

Irish Brittany Green (Salix purpurea): Slender green stems make Brittany Green another popular basket willow. 

Harrisons (Salix Purpurea x Viminalis): A stout rich brown-red,-deep green rod which is popular for larger bakets. It has a smooth even bark.

Brittany Blue (Salix purpurea x Salix daphnoides): Beautiful slender stems with a make this a very popular willow for basketry. Once dry it develops a bluish hue which makes it quite distinctive.

Continental Purple (Salix daphnoides): A stunning deep purple willow which develops a white bloom when dry. It's quite stout and therefore not so popular for basket making - but I can't resist growing it because it is such an incredible colour. Some people like to use it for living willow structures.

Flanders Red (Salix alba vitellina x fragilis): The waxy rods of Flanders Red are green with a red tinge that dry to a rich orange brown. It is quite stout so although suitable for basket making it is mainly used for larger baskets. ​

Golden Willow (Salix alba vitellina): The rods of Vitellina are not terribly slender, but the distinctive bright yellow stems are stunning. They dry to a deep chocolate brown, black or an interesting motley mixture.

Scarlet Willow (Salix alba chermisina): Chermesina produce remarkably rich orange-red rods which are very popular for their colour. It's hard to grow, produces many small side shoots and is therefore sold at a premium price.

For Living Willow:

Chinese (Salix miyabeana): A waxy green stemmed willow which turns orangey-red towards the tips. It can be wavy rather than dead straight.
​It is fast growing and vigorous. Very popular for living willow structures, soil stabilization and waste filtration.