10 bare root Cardinalis willow cuttings, 30 cm long, grown for their bright winter colour. Cardinalis produces stems that glow yellow, orange and red as the season cools, making it a favourite for decorative basketry and winter structure. Includes plant passport and planting instructions.
Pre-order now. Fresh-cut living plants, dispatched from mid January to March in strict order of purchase. Pre-orders open from September.
£7.80
Notify me when the item is back in stock.
These 10 Cardinalis willow cuttings are grown on a smallholding in Caerphilly by a basketmaker who has been cultivating willow since 2009. Cardinalis, a selected form of Salix alba, is prized for its brilliant stem colour which can change from golden yellow to orange and red as the season cools. The vivid young shoots make it a popular choice for decorative basketry, wreaths and seasonal arrangements.
Cardinalis establishes readily and responds well to coppicing, producing fresh colourful stems each year when managed for cutting. It tolerates heavier and wetter soils and can be grown as a coppiced shrub or allowed to form a medium sized tree if left uncut. Growing your own Cardinalis gives you a reliable, renewable source of bright material for craft and garden use.
Plant the cuttings through weed suppressant fabric to help them establish quickly. Prepare the fabric before your order arrives for easier planting. For basketry, space cuttings 30cm apart with 60cm between rows. Block planting often gives the best results, while wider spacing lets the cuttings grow into larger rods or trees.
Plant your cuttings as soon as possible. If you can’t plant immediately, store them in a cool place or in the freezer inside a plastic bag. You can plant them until the end of March while the weather stays cold. Cut basketry rods back to the original cutting each winter after the first year to encourage fresh, straight growth.
Willow cuttings are living plants, grown on my smallholding and harvested fresh shortly before dispatch. I send them at the appropriate time during the winter cutting season to ensure maximum freshness and viability.
Typical dispatch schedule by order month:
Please note: the exact dispatch date may vary depending on the number of orders received each month. I will email you a confirmation once I send your order.
Every order comes with a plant passport and full planting instructions.
Important: willow cuttings are supplied as bare-root living plant material. Willow cuttings are perishable, so you must plant or store them correctly when they arrive. You may cancel your order at any time before dispatch, but once dispatched we cannot accept cancellations or returns.
Discover all willow varieties on our willow page.
