Scarlet willow

Salix alba var. vitellina ‘Britzensis’

Selected cultivar of the white willow, with brilliant orange-red young winter stems that glow particularly intensely in low winter sun. Pollarded annually it becomes a winter exclamation point in the landscape.

Hardiness ratings

Scarlet willow hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 2–8 −45.6 °C to −6.7 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 2–8 −40 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–5 −15 °C to 10 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Brilliant orange-scarlet young winter stems — most dramatic when the tree is hard-pollarded every year or two
  • Tolerates wet ground and seasonal flooding — excellent at pond margins and stream banks
  • Without pollarding it grows into a substantial tree (20 m+) and the stem colour fades — pollarding is essential to the effect
  • Cultivar name ‘Britzensis’ refers to the Berlin district of Britz where it was selected

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Scarlet willow against your zones

Reference

Scarlet willow on Wikipedia