Plant Profile: Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa'

Names

Contorted Willow, Corkscrew Willow, Dragon's Claw Willow, Rattlesnake Willow

  • Photo of Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa' (Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa's)

Phonetic Spelling:SAL-iks bab-il-LON-ik-uh pee-keen-EN-sis

Genus:Salix

Species:babylonica

Family:Salicaceae

The 'Tortuosa' is a rapidly growing, medium-sized deciduous tree belonging to the willow family, characterized by its upright growth and twisted branches, shoots, and leaves. It typically reaches heights of 20 to 30 feet and spreads 10 to 15 feet wide.

For optimal growth, plant it in well-drained soil that remains moist to wet, ensuring it receives full sunlight, as this tree cannot thrive in dry conditions. It serves well as a specimen tree and adds visual interest to the landscape during the winter months.

This tree is vulnerable to various issues, including blights, powdery mildew, leaf spots, and cankers. It may also attract pests such as aphids, scale insects, borers, lacebugs, and caterpillars.

For further details on Salix babylonica, please refer to additional resources.

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa' Feature Summary

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa' Image Gallery

Tags

#full sun tolerant
#moist soil

Similar Plants

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa' is often confused with:

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa' Feature Summary

Flowers
Insignificant yellowish catkins
Gold/Yellow
Leaves
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Frequent Standing Water
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Fruit
Stem
Enclosed in a single cap like scale
Landscape
Winter Garden
Rain Garden
Deer
Wet Soil
Black Walnut
Lawn
Riparian
Pond

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa' Attributes

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Country Or Region Of Origin

Asia

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa' Flowers

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Flower Description

Insignificant yellowish catkins

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa' Leaves

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Leaf Description

Long narrow contorted leaves

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Leaf Color

spa
Green

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa' Whole Plant Traits

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa' Cultural Conditions

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa' Fruit

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa' Stem

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Stem Buds

Hairy
Hairy tips
Scaly
Smooth/Hairless

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Stem Bud Scales

Enclosed in 2 scales
Enclosed in a single cap like scale
Enclosed in more than 2 scales
No scales, covered in hair

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa' Landscape

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Salix babylonica var. pekinensis 'Tortuosa': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland