Curly willow varieties are grown for the bends and twists of their branches, the color of their young stems, and the shapes they add to a garden or dried arrangement. At Dingdong’s Garden on Lopez Island, Washington, we grow and harvest five different curly willows: Golden Curls, Scarlet Curls, Sunny Twist, Caradoc, and Golden Corkscrew.
Although they share twisted growth, they do not look or behave exactly alike. Some produce loose, irregular curls and arch over as they grow taller. Others make tighter corkscrew shapes and hold themselves more upright. This comparison is based on plants we grow, prune, and harvest on our farm.
Watch our five curly willow varieties
The video introduces the five varieties. The guide below adds details from our other variety videos and from growing and harvesting these willows over several seasons.
Curly willow comparison: color, curl, and growth habit
| Variety | Young stem color | Curl pattern | Typical growth habit on our farm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Curls | Golden-yellow to warm bronze | Looser bends, especially toward the tips | Tips can arch or droop later in summer |
| Scarlet Curls | Red to deep red | Irregular, sometimes dramatic twists | Loose, somewhat weeping habit |
| Sunny Twist | Reddish, orange, and yellow tones | Wide, unpredictable contortions | Often arches as the stems get taller |
| Caradoc | Bright yellow | Tight corkscrew-like twists | Relatively upright |
| Golden Corkscrew | Golden, olive, or brownish tones depending on season | More regular corkscrew twists | Relatively upright |
These descriptions reflect what we have observed in our growing conditions. Stem color changes with age, season, drying time, and light. The amount of curling also varies along an individual branch.
1. Golden Curls Willow
Golden Curls produces warm golden-to-bronze stems with twists that often become more noticeable toward the upper portions of the branches. Early in the growing season the shoots can look fairly upright; later, as the tips become heavier and more contorted, they may bend outward or droop.
We grow it as a hedge and cut it back annually for colorful first-year stems. On our farm, the branches are useful for winter interest and decorative arrangements. We have sometimes found Golden Curls less vigorous than neighboring curly varieties, although crowding and seasonal pest pressure may have contributed to that observation.
View Golden Curls willow cuttings.
2. Scarlet Curls Willow
Scarlet Curls stands out for its rich red first-year stems. The red branches contrast with green foliage in summer and provide color after the leaves drop. Its branches curve and twist in several directions, giving taller growth a loose, slightly weeping character.
The color of young growth is one reason we coppice Scarlet Curls each year. Older wood gradually becomes browner and loses much of the red color that makes new stems distinctive. We also harvest and dry the branches for floral arrangements; in our experience, the dried stems can develop a deeper red appearance.
View Scarlet Curls willow cuttings.
3. Sunny Twist Curly Willow
Sunny Twist has some of the most irregular bends among the curly willows we grow. Its young stems show a mixture of reddish, orange, and yellow tones. The bends often widen toward the top of a shoot, and taller branches can lean or hang over rather than remain straight.
We grow Sunny Twist for winter stem color and decorative branches. It can also make an unusual hedge or screen. Some color persists after drying, but the shade changes over time; in one of our winter harvest videos we describe the dried stems becoming a deeper orange.
View Sunny Twist curly willow cuttings.
4. Caradoc Curly Willow
Caradoc has bright yellow young branches and tighter corkscrew-like twists. Compared with Scarlet Curls and Sunny Twist, we find that its stems generally hold themselves more upright. That makes it useful where you want twisted, colorful stems without as much arching or weeping growth.
Freshly harvested Caradoc can be strikingly yellow. After several months of drying, the color softens; older wood left on the plant becomes browner. We prune our Caradoc plants annually to keep producing the vivid new stems used in decorative arrangements.
View Caradoc curly willow cuttings.
5. Golden Corkscrew Willow
Golden Corkscrew has a more regular twisting form than the loose, chaotic curls of Scarlet Curls or Sunny Twist. On our farm, its stems tend to stay comparatively upright, and the harvested branches develop darker brown tones as they dry.
We maintain older Golden Corkscrew stools that we cut back each year for fresh decorative stems. In one growing-season demonstration, winter-planted cuttings had reached about two feet by June. This is an observation from that particular planting, not a guaranteed growth rate. Golden Corkscrew can be grown as a seasonal hedge and coppiced for an annual stem harvest.
View Golden Corkscrew willow cuttings.
Which curly willow should you choose?
- For rich red winter stems: consider Scarlet Curls.
- For dramatic, irregular shapes: compare Sunny Twist and Scarlet Curls.
- For tighter corkscrew shapes: compare Caradoc and Golden Corkscrew.
- For bright yellow stems: consider Caradoc.
- For a looser golden curl and arching tips: consider Golden Curls.
All five can serve as ornamental plants. We also grow them in rows and harvest the young stems for arrangements. They are primarily decorative willows; if your main goal is weaving baskets, see our basketry willow cutting collection for varieties grown specifically for that purpose.
How we keep curly willow stems colorful
One of the most important lessons from our willow beds is that young wood generally shows the most distinctive color. When older branches remain on the plant for several years, their bark often becomes browner. To produce new colorful, curly stems every season, we coppice our willow: we cut the previous season's shoots back near the established stool during dormancy and allow new shoots to grow the following spring.
Annual coppicing also gives us stems to dry for arrangements. If grown as a hedge, the plants can provide leafy growth in summer and colorful stems in winter, depending on when you harvest. Willow grows vigorously in suitable conditions, so plan for its mature size, keep new plantings supplied with moisture, and give the stools room to expand.
Growing tip: If you use landscape fabric around the willow stools, check it every year and enlarge the openings as the woody bases grow. On our farm, we have had to cut back fabric so it doesn't constrict expanding trunks.
Can curly willow be grown from cuttings?
Yes. We propagate these varieties from live willow cuttings. Dormant hardwood cuttings are planted with the basal end down, in moist soil or a suitable potting mix, and kept watered while they establish. Rooting results vary by variety and growing conditions, and dried decorative stems are not the same as live propagation cuttings.
For our planting method, see How to Grow Willow from Cuttings: A Step-by-Step Guide. For a row planting, see How to Plant a Willow Hedge or Living Fence.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between curly willow and corkscrew willow?
Both names describe willows with contorted branches, and common names are used inconsistently. In this guide, we use the five variety names from our own nursery to make the comparisons clear. Golden Corkscrew and Caradoc have relatively tighter twists, while Scarlet Curls and Sunny Twist have more irregular bends in our growing conditions.
Do curly willow stems stay colorful after drying?
They retain distinctive shapes, but the colors change. We have observed deeper red tones in dried Scarlet Curls, warm orange tones in Sunny Twist, softer yellow in Caradoc, and darker brown tones in Golden Corkscrew. Appearance varies with harvesting and drying conditions.
Should curly willow be pruned every year?
For the colorful first-year branches we harvest, annual coppicing works well. If you want a larger ornamental tree, the pruning approach will be different. Choose the method based on whether your goal is a mature tree, a living screen, or an annual harvest of decorative stems.
Are curly willow stems good for basket weaving?
The strong bends and contortions make these varieties especially useful for decorative arrangements and ornamental planting. For long, relatively straight and flexible weaving rods, we generally recommend comparing dedicated basketry willow varieties instead.
Find curly willow cuttings and decorative branches
We grow these varieties on Lopez Island, Washington, and offer live dormant cuttings during our seasonal cutting sale. Browse our willow cuttings to compare planting varieties, or see our dried decorative willow bundles if you want branches for arrangements rather than plants to grow. Individual product pages provide availability and notification options when the cutting sale is closed.