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*photo courtesy of Tim Seabrook, 5 Star Nursery
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Salix spp. Cape Rosier Basket Willow 50' more or less. If you’re looking to make a basket, a bowl or maybe a boat, this could be the only material you need. Beautiful subtly golden-colored basket willow propagated from the old Nearing Homestead on Cape Rosier, ME. Their trees are pollarded, a European pruning technique of severely cutting back the main branches to enhance the formation of long whips for basket-making. This enables easy annual spring harvesting and controls the size of the tree. In time, the trees develop a gnarly head which has great character. Stanley Joseph, homesteader on Cape Rosier and neighbor of the Nearings, used this willow for many years to make everything from baskets to the traditional Irish boat, the coracle. Nearly 30 years ago, with Stanley’s encouragement, I first planted basket willows on our farm in Palermo. Prefers sun and moist soils. Z4. ME Grown. (3-4') |
