Why willow?
Willow is perhaps the most flexible of all trees even when fresh. As it dries, it shrinks in width by almost a third and develops its special toughness when it is cut during its dormant season — in Finland, during winter. When willow is dried slowly over a long period, even completely dry rods can be soaked in water to become supple, almost leather-like material. People have taken advantage of this unique property of willow for thousands of years.
There are hundreds of willow species and hybrids, and different varieties are suitable for different purposes. In Finnish, some willows are also called salava, for example Terijoensalava (weeping willow) or the hybrid Americana. Cutting willow is not covered by Everyman’s Rights in Finland, so permission from the landowner is required even for wild willows.
What type of willow?
Fresh willow
Flexible fresh willow can be used successfully, as long as you keep in mind that as the work dries, the rods shrink and bindings and weaves may loosen. During the growing season, all willows are more prone to breaking because of sap flow, whereas rods cut in winter tolerate bending much better. We sell fresh willow for crafts from autumn until late spring, but we do not cut our willows during the growing season.
Living willow for planting
For planting purposes, we sell living (growing) willow from March until the end of May, depending on the spring season. These are cut in winter and are mainly one-year rods grown during the previous summer.
Living willow is available in the following forms:
Willow cuttings
- Cut during dormancy, these are 25 cm (or longer) “willow sticks” planted about 20 cm deep. During the first growing season, 1–5 new rods typically grow from each cutting.
- Cuttings can be used for willow cultivation, living fences, embankments, wetland plantings, privacy and windbreak plantings, and more.
Long willow rods
- Long rods create an impressive result immediately after planting — for example for willow huts or fences, screens, partitions, tunnels, labyrinths, gates, arches, and more.
- Our living planting rods are available in April–May. They are sorted by length in 20 cm increments starting from 180–200 cm, with the longest class being over 400 cm.
- Lengths vary greatly by variety; the longest rods are usually found in basket willow and Siberian willow.
Potted willow shrubs and growing willow trees
We also grow potted willow shrubs from cuttings. They give you a good-sized plant quickly for garden decoration, privacy screening, or for producing material for weaving.
Dried willow
Dried willow is the best material for weaving. When used unpeeled, it offers excellent durability outdoors as well, often without any surface treatment. And because the shrinking has already happened, work made with bindings, knotting, or loom weaving stays tight and does not loosen.
We do very little peeling, so peeled willow is not available in bundles. However, we do sell willow bark strip as an excellent tying material.
Dried willow is sold as one-season rods, trimmed of side shoots, mainly in 100-piece and 50-piece bundles, sorted by length in 20 cm increments starting from 60–80 cm. More detailed information can be found in the Price List section.
Willow varieties
Over the decades, we have selected varieties that thrive well in Finland — especially willows suitable for weaving and other crafts. Another key criterion has been ornamental value, both as living shrubs and as dried craft willow.
Today we grow more than 20 planted willow varieties on our farm, as well as various wild willows. Below is a list of the willow varieties we sell and notes on their characteristics:
BASKET WILLOW Salix viminalis
- Two strains with slightly different stem colour
- Rod length from 60 cm to over 3 m
- Excellent for planting, both as long rods and as cuttings
- Flexible and very versatile craft willow
PURPLE WILLOWS Salix purpurea
- Three varieties: ‘Metla’, ‘Mustila’, and ‘Parkkonen’
- Also the dwarf variety ‘Gracilis’
- Rod length depends on variety (approx. 50–260 cm)
- Very flexible, fine weaving willow
- Beautiful as ornamental shrubs and for freely growing hedges, etc.
YELLOW WILLOW Salix alba ’Vitellina’
- Living rods are yellow-orange; when dried they turn warm brown
- Rod length 60–260 cm
- Beautiful as an ornamental plant and in many kinds of plantings
- Attractive catkins that draw pollinators
- Flexible and an excellent willow for weaving and crafts
SHARP-STIPULED WILLOW Salix x mollissima Salix x mollissima
- Brown rods
- Rod length 60–220 cm
- Very productive, shrub-like growth
- A variety bred from basket willow and river willow to make a good weaving willow
- Also sold as cuttings for willow cultivation
NARROW-LEAF WILLOW Salix schwerinii
- Strong and fast-growing
- Rod length can exceed 4 m in a single growing season
- Due to its sturdiness, excellent for fences and hut plantings as long rods
- Produces few side branches
- Not a good weaving willow when dried, but well suited for many uses as a frame/warp
WILLOW HYBRIDS (SALIX HYBRIDS)
Belgian Red
- Beautiful brown rods, length 60–240 cm
- Attractive as a growing shrub
- Very good for weaving and crafts
Americana
- Brown rods 60–160 cm
- Beautiful shrub, flexible weaving willow, easy to peel
VIOLET WILLOW Salix daphnoides
- Fresh rods have an unusual lime-green colour with a light waxy coating
- When dried, stem colour can turn almost black; sun-drying may produce a yellow tone
- Produces many side branches; beautiful catkins
- An unusual ornamental plant when managed as a cut shrub
SIBERIAN VIOLET WILLOW Salix daphnoides subsp. acutifolia
- Vigorous growth, distinctive dark violet stems that may darken further as they dry
- Also develops a pale waxy coating
- Suitable for outdoor plantings due to its special stem colour; somewhat brittle for weaving
HOOP WILLOW Salix dasyclados
- Produces curved rods, length 60–160 cm
- Sturdy yet flexible
- As the name suggests, well suited for curved work
- Very large catkins that attract pollinators
OTHER WILLOW VARIETIES
We sell these mainly as cuttings in spring: RIVER WILLOW, ENERGY WILLOW, WATER WILLOW, WEEPING WILLOW and “GOBLIN WILLOW” (Jokipaju, Energiapaju, Vesipaju, Itkupaju ja Peikonpaju).
More information
The easiest way to get more information about Sunniemen Pajutila’s willow selection, availability, and which varieties are best suited for your needs is to call or email us. We are happy to help with all willow ideas!
